Motivational Interviewing Training + Coaching

By completing Motivational Interviewing training, participants will be able to:

• Evaluate their connection to the values of the "Spirit of MI," the foundation to effective collaboration.
• Differentiate between the roles of extrinsic and intrinsic motivation in behavior change.
• List the Four Processes of Motivational Interviewing.
• Demonstrate the OARS+ communication tools: open-ended questions, affirmations, reflective listening, summaries, and information sharing.
• Distinguish between directing, following, and guiding styles.
• Apply methods to partner with clients to foster productive exchange and avoid discord.
• Describe how to evoke and strengthen "change talk" and soften "sustain talk" in conversations.
• Discuss coaching feedback in demonstration of in-class MI practice.
• Formulate goals for both continuing MI practice and fostering an "MI culture" that treats individuals with compassion and acceptance.

Joe Simmons brings a unique combination of background and strengths to Motivational Interviewing training:

• Extensive experience partnering with individuals and teams with ability to engage diverse audiences and facilitate discussions among licensed clinicians and frontline staff.
• Member of Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT)
• Native fluency in Spanish allows coaching of bilingual role plays for participants serving Spanish-speaking communities.
• Coaching approach draws out participants' thoughts, ideas, and experience to reinforce learning.
• Teaching artist and former university vocal interpretation instructor who provides valuable feedback on how to use verbal and non-verbal communication tools to affect change conversations.
• Passionate energy and humor keep discussions and activities lively and fun.

Joe Simmons has partnered with individuals and teams from large and small, public and private, FQHCs, and a host of other health organizations, including:

• New York Presbyterian
• Northwell Health
• New York City Health + Hospitals
• NYU Langone
• City University of New York Research Foundation
• 1199 SEIU
• SUNY Downstate Medical Center
• Montefiore Medical Center
• Bronx Lebanon Hospital and Special Care Center
• Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center
• Mount Sinai
• Jamaica Hospital Medical Center
• SOMOS Community Care
• Variety Care
• CAMBA
• Brooklyn Health Home/Maimonides Medical Center
• Westchester Medical Center Health Network
• Hispanic Federation
• Federation of Multicultural Programs
• Harlem Center 
• Archcare - Terrence Cardinal Cooke Health Care Center
• Schulman & SchachteI Institute
• Independent Living Association

Basic concepts and skills of Motivational Interviewing to help individuals resolve ambivalence to make positive behavior changes to improve self-management and health outcomes. Participants learn and practice core skills, observe demonstrations, and engage in active discussion to reinforce learning.

Practitioners with some previous training explore intermediate skills for supporting clients in navigating change. Topics include evoking and strengthening change talk and using the Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity Scale to fortify MI fidelity.

How to engage in a productive dialogue using Motivational Interviewing tools with individuals who are uncertain about vaccination. Learn and practice strategies to listen with accurate empathy, avoid argument or discord, and assist with resolving ambivalence with compassion and acceptance.

Practical Motivational Interviewing tools to increase engagement and trust with clients by phone, virtually, or in person to support behavior change to improve self-management and health outcomes. Includes skills practice.

Ongoing supervision and coaching of MI practitioners greatly enhances development and maintenance of proficiency in fidelity and skills. This two-day training provides supervisors with Motivational Interviewing-based tools to support team members in collaborations with clients to strengthen MI adherence and increase confidence in their practice.

Individualized coaching and support to discuss issues encountered in implementing Motivational Interviewing or supervising practitioners.