Motivational Interviewing
Motivational Interviewing 6 Hour of instruction with a 1 hour Lunch from 12-1
October 24, 2025 9am-4pm Location will be sent out closer to the class date. But will be located in Norman, OK.
Steven P. Wells, M.S.W., Ph.D.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (Oklahoma #1330)
Restore Behavioral Health – October 24, 2025
Title
An Introduction to Motivational Interviewing
Workshop Description
Motivational Interviewing (MI), “a particular kind of conversation about change”, is a well-established, evidence-based practice employed by practitioners and paraprofessionals across multiple practice contexts in allied health. This workshop will introduce participants to the underlying “Spirit of Motivational Interviewing” and the necessary skills required to establish a working relationship with clients. It will explore ambivalence toward change along with strategies for assisting clients to shift toward “change talk”. This will be achieved through didactic content, brief video presentations, and experiential activities.
Learner Outcomes - On completion of this session, participants will be able to:
1. Understand the primary aim in using Motivational Interviewing for helping people change challenging behaviors.
2. Identify the basic skills required to establish a working relationship necessary supporting the use of Motivational Interviewing.
3. Understand and describe “ambivalence to change” and identify strategies to manage it.
4. Identify the concept of “change talk” and understand the skills required to address it in working with clients.
Abstract
Since introduced in 1983, Motivational Interviewing (MI) has sparked the interest of clinical practitioners as a potentially effective tool for helping people facing needed, but difficult change in their lives. Acknowledging roots in Rogerian practice, MI was first employed with individuals struggling with problematic drinking, especially those viewed as “denying their problems” and “resistant to change”. Early success with these populations moved MI into several other practice areas such as health, medicine, allied health, child welfare, domestic violence, sports, and corrections. Eventually, MI joined with those examining the Transtheoretical Model of Change, and forged a dynamic, conceptual partnership. This workshop will provide an overview of Motivational Interviewing and discuss the “Spirit of MI” (Partnership, Compassion, Acceptance, and Empowerment). Concepts such as “Four Processes of MI, “ambivalence”, ”change and sustain talk”, “decisional balance” and other key features of MI will be introduced and explained. The range of MI techniques and skills will be explored, with a closer examination to basic skills offered through video and “in-vivo” demonstrations. The importance of the therapist’s belief in change and supporting client self-efficacy will be addressed. A general overview of the Transtheoretical Model of Change will be provided with links to MI concepts. Research finding from different practice domains will be highlighted.
Motivational Interviewing 6 Hour of instruction with a 1 hour Lunch from 12-1
October 24, 2025 9am-4pm Location will be sent out closer to the class date. But will be located in Norman, OK.
Steven P. Wells, M.S.W., Ph.D.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (Oklahoma #1330)
Restore Behavioral Health – October 24, 2025
Title
An Introduction to Motivational Interviewing
Workshop Description
Motivational Interviewing (MI), “a particular kind of conversation about change”, is a well-established, evidence-based practice employed by practitioners and paraprofessionals across multiple practice contexts in allied health. This workshop will introduce participants to the underlying “Spirit of Motivational Interviewing” and the necessary skills required to establish a working relationship with clients. It will explore ambivalence toward change along with strategies for assisting clients to shift toward “change talk”. This will be achieved through didactic content, brief video presentations, and experiential activities.
Learner Outcomes - On completion of this session, participants will be able to:
1. Understand the primary aim in using Motivational Interviewing for helping people change challenging behaviors.
2. Identify the basic skills required to establish a working relationship necessary supporting the use of Motivational Interviewing.
3. Understand and describe “ambivalence to change” and identify strategies to manage it.
4. Identify the concept of “change talk” and understand the skills required to address it in working with clients.
Abstract
Since introduced in 1983, Motivational Interviewing (MI) has sparked the interest of clinical practitioners as a potentially effective tool for helping people facing needed, but difficult change in their lives. Acknowledging roots in Rogerian practice, MI was first employed with individuals struggling with problematic drinking, especially those viewed as “denying their problems” and “resistant to change”. Early success with these populations moved MI into several other practice areas such as health, medicine, allied health, child welfare, domestic violence, sports, and corrections. Eventually, MI joined with those examining the Transtheoretical Model of Change, and forged a dynamic, conceptual partnership. This workshop will provide an overview of Motivational Interviewing and discuss the “Spirit of MI” (Partnership, Compassion, Acceptance, and Empowerment). Concepts such as “Four Processes of MI, “ambivalence”, ”change and sustain talk”, “decisional balance” and other key features of MI will be introduced and explained. The range of MI techniques and skills will be explored, with a closer examination to basic skills offered through video and “in-vivo” demonstrations. The importance of the therapist’s belief in change and supporting client self-efficacy will be addressed. A general overview of the Transtheoretical Model of Change will be provided with links to MI concepts. Research finding from different practice domains will be highlighted.
Motivational Interviewing 6 Hour of instruction with a 1 hour Lunch from 12-1
October 24, 2025 9am-4pm Location will be sent out closer to the class date. But will be located in Norman, OK.
Steven P. Wells, M.S.W., Ph.D.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (Oklahoma #1330)
Restore Behavioral Health – October 24, 2025
Title
An Introduction to Motivational Interviewing
Workshop Description
Motivational Interviewing (MI), “a particular kind of conversation about change”, is a well-established, evidence-based practice employed by practitioners and paraprofessionals across multiple practice contexts in allied health. This workshop will introduce participants to the underlying “Spirit of Motivational Interviewing” and the necessary skills required to establish a working relationship with clients. It will explore ambivalence toward change along with strategies for assisting clients to shift toward “change talk”. This will be achieved through didactic content, brief video presentations, and experiential activities.
Learner Outcomes - On completion of this session, participants will be able to:
1. Understand the primary aim in using Motivational Interviewing for helping people change challenging behaviors.
2. Identify the basic skills required to establish a working relationship necessary supporting the use of Motivational Interviewing.
3. Understand and describe “ambivalence to change” and identify strategies to manage it.
4. Identify the concept of “change talk” and understand the skills required to address it in working with clients.
Abstract
Since introduced in 1983, Motivational Interviewing (MI) has sparked the interest of clinical practitioners as a potentially effective tool for helping people facing needed, but difficult change in their lives. Acknowledging roots in Rogerian practice, MI was first employed with individuals struggling with problematic drinking, especially those viewed as “denying their problems” and “resistant to change”. Early success with these populations moved MI into several other practice areas such as health, medicine, allied health, child welfare, domestic violence, sports, and corrections. Eventually, MI joined with those examining the Transtheoretical Model of Change, and forged a dynamic, conceptual partnership. This workshop will provide an overview of Motivational Interviewing and discuss the “Spirit of MI” (Partnership, Compassion, Acceptance, and Empowerment). Concepts such as “Four Processes of MI, “ambivalence”, ”change and sustain talk”, “decisional balance” and other key features of MI will be introduced and explained. The range of MI techniques and skills will be explored, with a closer examination to basic skills offered through video and “in-vivo” demonstrations. The importance of the therapist’s belief in change and supporting client self-efficacy will be addressed. A general overview of the Transtheoretical Model of Change will be provided with links to MI concepts. Research finding from different practice domains will be highlighted.