Earn 13 Continuing Education hours while enjoying everything the beautiful city of Charlotte has to offer!

-NC NASW Endorsed:  13 hours

-NCASPPB Approved:  13 hours SS(EBT)

-SC Board of Examiners:  LCSW, LPC, LMFT, Addictions Counselors; 13 hours;  #4549 

(Trainer is solely responsible for all content; Attendees must please attend entire conference for credits)

Training Description

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a highly respected evidence based practice for behavioral healthcare providers (MH, SUD and Co-Occurring Disorders.) MI accepts that ambivalence is both normal and a barrier to change and has very good outcomes in helping clients resolve ambivalence. MI examines, with a client, their core values and goals, and through a respectful and collaborative therapeutic relationship, using specific interactional skills, and interventions, facilitates clients making decisions that are congruent with their goals and values.

MI is useful in preparing clients for another modality of therapy, though can be used as a sole or primary modality. This introductory course, 13 hours, uses a combination of didactic, experiential (‘real play’), small group and large group practice work, clinical videos and MI consistent feedback from the trainer.

Training Goals

-Attendees will be able to describe the Spirit of MI and identify areas in themselves/their practice to grow ‘spirit’

-Attendees will be able to identify (and practice) the 5 key communication skills in an MI informed intervention

-Attendees will be able to identify the 4 processes in MI informed therapy

-Attendees will be able to identify what change talk is and practice listening for change talk

-Attendees will be able to identify techniques (and practice how) to elicit and strengthen change talk

-Attendees will be able to define the difference between resistance and therapeutic discord

-Attendees will be able to identify and practice how to respond to resistance and/or therapeutic discord

-Attendees will be able to identify how to develop a change plan with a client

What Others Have Said

Laurie Conaty is an effective, knowledgeable, and engaging instructor. She really knows the material and makes difficult concepts easier to comprehend.

Laurie did a great job of making this training practical with our everyday practice with clients..she was willing to explain so everyone ‘got it!’

Hands down the best training I have been to and I have been to a lot!

Her wealth of clinical experience and passion for MI is unmatched. I was engaged the whole time!

Training Schedule

Day 1

8:30-10:00am Spirit of MI; History and Foundational Theories; Pre-quiz

10:00-10:15am Break

10:15-11:30am Practice work with self-reflection and identifying and increasing the ‘spirit of MI’ in clinical work

11:30-12:30pm Lunch

12:30-2:00pm Foundational Communication Skills (OARS-I); Practice Application Work (small/large group)

2:00-2:15pm Break

2:15-4:15pm Identifying the Four Processes in MI informed therapy; clinical skills to be used in each process

4:15-4:30pm Summary of learning of the day and application to practice

Day 2

8:30-8:15am Solidifying skills and practice from Day 1-review, Q&A

8:15-10:00am Real Play using 5 Foundational Communication Skills, groups of 3, trainer feedback re: MI skills

10:00-10:15am Break

10:15-11:45am Identifying and eliciting change talk; learn ways to respond to change talk

11:45a-12:45p Lunch

12:45-2:00pm Movement through the 4 processes of MI informed therapy; skills, techniques, practice

2:00-2:15pm Break

2:15-4:15pm Dealing with resistance; developing committed change plans; plan for ongoing growth of skill

4:15-4:30pm Q&A related to learning of the day and application to practice; Post-quiz