Who is the Motivational Interviewing course suitable for?

The Motivational Interviewing course is suitable for anyone whose work involves conversations with people who are resistant to change. Think of coaches, care workers, healthcare professionals, managers, consultants, trainers, sales staff and teachers. You learn to reduce resistance and increase motivation for change, based on the scientific work of Miller and Rollnick. No prior knowledge is required.

What will you learn during the Motivational Interviewing course?

During the Motivational Interviewing course you learn to reduce resistance and increase motivation for change, based on the scientific work of Miller and Rollnick. You work on four conversation steps: dealing with ambivalence, connecting with the other person, evoking yes talk (change talk) and bringing the conversation to a successful close. You actively practise with real situations from your own work.

Which conversation technique is covered in the Motivational Interviewing course?

The course is based on the method of Miller and Rollnick, the academic founders of motivational interviewing. You learn to work with the four steps for moving from resistance to 'yes language', to recognise ambivalence and to elicit change talk. The course is taught in a classroom setting in groups of no more than eight participants.

Is prior knowledge required for the Motivational Interviewing course?

No, no prior knowledge is required for the Motivational Interviewing course. You can start straight away, whatever your background as a coach, care worker, manager, adviser or healthcare professional. Prior to the course, an intake takes place in which the trainer identifies your personal learning objectives. On that basis, the programme for the course day is tailored to your situation.

How large is the group on the Motivational Interviewing course?

The Motivational Interviewing course is given in a small group of no more than eight participants. This group size gives you enough personal attention from the trainer and room to practise conversation techniques actively. An intake takes place beforehand, so that the programme matches your personal learning objectives and workplace situations.

What is the difference between motivational interviewing and an ordinary conversation techniques course?

Motivational interviewing (MI) is a specific method, developed by William Miller and Stephen Rollnick, aimed at reducing resistance and eliciting change talk in the other person. A general conversation techniques course covers skills such as active listening, summarising and probing in a broad sense. MI goes a step further: you learn to work with ambivalence, to go through four processes (engaging, focusing, evoking, planning) and to deliberately elicit 'yes talk' from someone who is actually reluctant. At Learnit you get (classroom-based, maximum 8 participants) the theory and practice of this specific method. Choose this if you work with clients, customers or employees where resistance is a recurring theme. Not if you mainly want to improve general communication.

When should you choose a classroom Motivational Interviewing course rather than a book or an online course?

A classroom course makes sense if you really want to apply the technique in conversations, not just understand it. Motivational interviewing is about subtle skills: reflective listening, dealing with ambivalence and eliciting change talk. You learn these mainly by practising and getting immediate feedback on your tone, choice of words and timing. The book by Miller and Rollnick gives you the theory, but it does not hold up a mirror to your own conversational behaviour. An online course lacks the space to practise with other participants. At Learnit you practise in a classroom setting in a group of no more than eight people, with a trainer who brings in your own practical situations. Choose classroom if you encounter resistance in real conversations and want to be able to test your skills straight away. Choose self-study if your interest is purely theoretical.

Can I also apply motivational interviewing outside my work, for example in conversations with family or friends?

Yes. The method of Miller and Rollnick was developed in addiction care, but it works in any situation in which someone is ambivalent or resistant. During the course you practise techniques that you can use just as well with a colleague who is unwilling to go along with a change, a teenager who does not want to adjust their behaviour, or a family member who is stuck on a choice. The four steps from no to yes and the eliciting of change talk are context-independent. One nuance, though: in personal relationships your role is different from your role as a professional. You are not a neutral conversation partner, which makes it harder to set aside your own judgement. The course gives you a framework you can use in both contexts.

How quickly can I actually apply motivational interviewing in my conversations after the course?

The techniques from motivational interviewing can be applied immediately after the course day. During the classroom course you actively practise the four steps from Miller and Rollnick's model, recognising resistance and ambivalence, and eliciting change talk. Because the group has a maximum of eight participants, you get plenty of practice time with realistic conversation situations. You can expect the basic skills, such as reflective listening and dealing with resistance, to be usable on the very next working day. Really using change talk smoothly and consciously steering a conversation usually takes a few weeks of deliberate practice in your own conversations. The more conversations you have that involve resistance, the sooner the technique becomes second nature.

What makes motivational interviewing according to Miller and Rollnick different from classic persuasion techniques?

Motivational interviewing (MI) was developed by William Miller and Stephen Rollnick and is based on a fundamentally different principle from classic persuasion techniques. When persuading, you try to move the other person towards your point of view with arguments, which often backfires when there is resistance. MI works the other way round: you connect with the other person's ambivalence and elicit what is known as change talk, so that the motivation to change comes from your conversation partner themselves. This is scientifically substantiated and is used in healthcare, addiction services, education and coaching, among other fields. In the classroom-based course you actively practise the four steps of a motivational conversation, recognising resistance and eliciting yes-talk. The maximum group size is eight participants.

Does motivational interviewing also work with people who are not at all open to change, such as a colleague who shows no self-insight whatsoever?

Yes, that is precisely what the method was developed for. Miller and Rollnick originally developed motivational interviewing in addiction care, where clients often saw no problem or actively rejected change. The technique works by not fighting resistance, but acknowledging and exploring it. You connect with the other person's frame of reference and elicit change talk, rather than putting forward arguments that only reinforce the resistance. An important nuance: motivational interviewing increases the chance of movement, but does not guarantee change. Ultimately, people have to take the step themselves. With a colleague who lacks self-insight, the method mainly ensures that the relationship remains intact and that ambivalence becomes visible. Often the starting point for change later on. During the Learnit course day (classroom-based, maximum eight participants) you explicitly practise these kinds of difficult situations.

How much does the Motivational Interviewing course cost and how long does it last?

You will find the current price at the top right of this course page, together with the schedule, location and delivery format. For in-company or bespoke courses we are happy to provide a quotation on request.

Motivational Interviewing course (1 day)

Name: Motivational interviewing
Price: 625.0 EUR
Availability: InStock
Rating: 9.1 (4 reviews)

Turning resistance into a wholehearted "yes"? With motivational interviewing according to Miller and Rollnick, you gain the tools to connect with the other person, explore ambivalence and elicit change talk. Practical, active and directly applicable in your work.

Description

Holding conversations with people who do not want something can be difficult. You have the other person's best interests at heart, but you do not always manage to bring the conversation to a good conclusion. Motivational interviewing is a conversation technique with which you reduce resistance, increase motivation for change and strengthen your relationship with the other person.

In this course you actively work with the theory and practice of motivational interviewing, based on the scientific work of Miller and Rollnick. You learn how to connect with the other person, how to deal with ambivalence and how to evoke change talk. Through plenty of practice in a safe atmosphere, you develop an approach that you can apply directly in your own practice.

Topics

The following topics, among others, are covered during the course:

What is motivational interviewing and where does it come from?
Resistance and ambivalence: what is it and how do you deal with it intelligently?
The four steps of a motivational conversation: how to get from no to yes
Eliciting change talk (also known as yes-talk)
Concluding your conversation successfully
Practising with your own workplace situations

Result

After this course you recognise resistance and ambivalence more quickly, and you know how to respond to it calmly. You connect better with the person you are talking to and steer the conversation purposefully towards change talk.

You have practised with the four steps from the method of Miller and Rollnick and can apply these in conversations with clients, customers, colleagues or people in your private environment. You conduct difficult conversations with more confidence and maintain the relationship even when you disagree.

You reduce resistance in a respectful way, you are a stronger conversation partner in difficult situations, you recognise what lies behind resistance, including in yourself, you know how to guide someone from "no" to "yes language", and you maintain a good relationship, even when the other person does not want something.

Target audience

This course is ideally suited to anyone whose work involves conversations. Think of coaches, healthcare workers, sales professionals, teachers, trainers, managers or consultants. Do you work a lot with clients, customers, pupils or colleagues who sometimes get stuck in resistance or doubt? Then this course will help you further.

You do not need any prior knowledge of motivational interviewing. An open attitude and the wish to improve your conversation technique are enough.

Teaching method

You learn motivational interviewing mainly by doing it. After an intake, the trainer tailors the programme to your learning objectives. During the course you alternate short pieces of theory with exercises, role plays and practical situations from your own work.

You practise in a small group of no more than eight participants, so there is room for personal feedback and sufficient repetition. The atmosphere is safe and informal: you have every opportunity to experiment with new techniques and discover what works for you.

The approach is based on the work of Miller and Rollnick. You go home with concrete tools that you can apply immediately in your conversations.

Prior knowledge

You do not need any specific prior knowledge. It does help if, at work or privately, you regularly have conversations in which you notice that the other person is reluctant or hesitant. Would you like to handle those more smoothly? Then this course is a good match.

In-company

Would you like to organise this training for a whole group or several groups? This can be cost-effective. For example, we can tailor the content entirely to your organisation, and training a whole group is also cheaper.

Are you looking at large numbers of participants or a complete academy? That involves a great deal. Consider planning and communication, for example, or identifying and agreeing the objectives and content of the training. Or differences in level, feedback mechanisms and safeguarding. Fortunately, Learnit has extensive experience in this field (more than 25 years) and we are happy to help you through this process.

Request a quote

Language

The training is given in Dutch as standard. The trainer has a good command of English. English-language course material can be used. With a minimum enrolment of 3 participants, the training can also be given entirely in English.

Number of days:

1 day

Course times:

from 10 am to 5 pm

Study load:

7 hours

Education level:

This training is suitable for all levels.

Exemptions:

Exemptions do not apply to this course.

Preparation time:

No preparation time applies to this course.

Certificate:

At the end of the course, a certificate is issued as proof of participation.

The best training for you

At Learnit you will always find a course that takes you further. From (technical) IT skills to communication or personal leadership. You can also choose the training format that suits you best: a classroom course, a tailor-made course at your own office, an online course or an e-learning. We have the right course and the right format for everyone. Because learning in the way that suits you best delivers the best results.

Moving forward together

Taking a training course at Learnit means learning together. Together with your experienced trainer, together with your course group or together with your colleagues. And whether you take the training at home, at your office or at one of our training locations, we are always available to help you. To share our knowledge with you in a way that is genuinely useful to you. Getting further together through personal attention and understanding each other well; that is what we believe in.

Apply it directly in your work

Learning theory from a book that you can then hardly use in your work? Not at Learnit! Whichever training you take with us, you can put it to use at your workplace straight away. Because of the unique learning objectives you set together with the trainer at the start of the training. Because of the alternation between theory and (interactive) practical assignments. And by bringing the challenges you face in your daily work along to the training.