
Course Title: Motivational Interviewing for Clinical Practice
Presenter(s): Carla Marienfeld, MD, DFAPA, DFASAM
Course Description: Motivational interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based approach to guide and enhance conversations when working with patients to promote positive behavior change. Originally developed in the context of treating substance use disorders, MI is a collaborative method of communication that pays particular attention to the language of change. MI helps to strengthen intrinsic motivation for change by exploring the patient’s own reasons for change by communicating the spirit of acceptance, partnership, empowerment, and compassion. This educational activity will introduce key MI concepts, including the four tasks, the spirit of MI, and skills for evoking change talk.
Educational Objectives:
At the conclusion of this activity, participants should be able to:
- Describe the spirit of Motivational Interviewing (MI) and its four key components:
partnership, acceptance, compassion, and empowerment
- Apply the basic MI skills of open-ended questions, affirmations, reflective listening, andsummaries to selectively reinforce change talk
- Demonstrate MI consistent behaviors to improve participant internal motivation while reducingsustain talk
Curriculum Overview: Healthcare professionals are often on the front lines of treating substance use disorders (SUDs), yet many have limited formal training in this area. The SUD 101 Core Curriculum is designed to build a strong foundation in current research, evidence-based practices, and available resources.
The curriculum includes:
- Foundational Courses: Eight interactive, case-based courses that simulate real-world clinical scenarios and provide foundational SUD training
- Supplemental Courses: These courses offer a deeper exploration of specialized topics and expand on core concepts
Together, these courses enhance healthcare professionals’ competence and confidence in caring for patients with SUDs across the continuum of care, with a particular focus on opioid use disorders (OUD).
This is a supplemental course within the SUD 101 Core Curriculum. Visit the SUD 101 Core Curriculum page to explore additional educational trainings as new courses become available.