Motivational Interviewing

Purpose: 

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based practice developed to increase people’s motivation to change through collaborative conversations in an environment of compassion and empathy. The primary objective of this training is to teach individuals the technical and relational skills of MI.

This training will apply interactive methods to enhance the learning through a variety of experiences such as: experiential exercises, real and role plays, videos and demonstrations. Participants will obtain general knowledge in the four tasks of MI; engaging, evoking, focusing and planning. Upon completion, participants will have developed proficiency in the following core skills: open ended questions, affirmations, empathic reflections and summaries. These skills are practiced throughout the four tasks to support people in resolving the common problem of ambivalence with the overarching goal of making healthy life changes. 

Learning objectives:

• Define Motivational Interviewing (MI) and demonstrate an intermediate understanding of the critical elements of the treatment.
• Develop an understanding of the underlying spirit of MI and how this influences the intervention. Identify and describe the technical skills of MI.
• Recognize reflective listening responses and differentiate them from other counseling responses.

Presenter:  Jimmy Portner, LISW-S, LICDC-CS

Jimmy Portner is the Director of the Intensive Treatment Division for the VA Central Ohio Healthcare System. This Division focus on provision of recovery-based interventions for Veterans with severe mental illnesses and substance use disorders. He also serves as a subject matter expert for the National Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) program.

He specializes in the training, implementation and clinical supervision of evidence-based practices for dual diagnoses treatments including MI and MET.

Mr. Portner possesses experience which spans the use of MI in clinical settings, teaching, and research. He has more than a decade of experience in MI and is a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers, a prestigious and selective national group of MI professionals.

Mr. Portner serves as an adjunct professor for The Ohio State University College of Social Work where he received both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Social Work. His teaching experience span evidence-based practices for substance use disorders, group therapy treatment and clinical interviewing skills.