Motivational Interviewing

• Understand this effective, evidence based approach to overcome the ambivalence which keeps children, young people or their family members from making the desired changes in their lives.
• Appreciate the value of a collaborative alliance between practitioner and client which focusses on the client’s intrinsic motivation and values.
• Practice the principles of motivational interviewing such as: expressing empathy through reflective listening; developing discrepancy between clients’ goals or values and their present behaviour; avoid argument and direct confrontation; adjust to client resistant rather than opposing it directly; and support self-efficacy and optimism.
• Understand about open-ended questioning, affirmations, summarising, reflective listening, rolling with resistance, change talk and complementing change talk.
• Consider how to use these skills as part of practice to encourage children, young people and their families to explore their ambivalence in problem areas, and work towards positive change

On day 1 the course focuses on the worker practice e.g. practice using themselves, their issues, ambiance, and dilemmas

On day 2 the delegates practice using role play but by using enactments as clients, ensuring the MI technique is developed through practice and feedback.