Motivational Interviewing Training, Coaching & Coding
What is Motivational Interviewing?
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an evidence based, client-centered counseling approach designed to help clients move towards making positive health behavior changes. MI can be effectively incorporated into substance abuse treatment programming, case management services and medical or mental health care. Research has demonstrated that even brief “doses” of MI may help empower clients to create change in their lives. The collaborative nature of the MI approach blends well with client assessment and the provision of related services and can be used within the context of outreach, group and individual therapy, substance abuse treatment, mental health care and case management.
Training Approach
I specialize in offering custom-tailored trainings for individuals and agencies seeking to implement MI with diverse populations; services range from introductory to advanced trainings, personalized coaching, treatment fidelity monitoring, and program evaluation.
My training style is dynamic and flexible, and training agenda and content are developed in collaboration with the agency or individual sponsoring the training. Trainings range from a basic two-day introductory training to ongoing training incorporating supervision and feedback on taped practice samples using the Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity (MITI) rating system. I also offer advanced and booster trainings tailored to address specific strengths and areas in need of practice.
Contact me to discuss your organization's specific training needs.
My training style is dynamic and flexible, and training agenda and content are developed in collaboration with the agency or individual sponsoring the training. Trainings range from a basic two-day introductory training to ongoing training incorporating supervision and feedback on taped practice samples using the Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity (MITI) rating system. I also offer advanced and booster trainings tailored to address specific strengths and areas in need of practice.
Contact me to discuss your organization's specific training needs.
Coaching Services
Research on training in MI has demonstrated that an introductory training will reliably assist counselors in beginning to practice MI, however, an introductory training alone is not sufficient to produce long term changes in practice styles (Miller & Mount, 2001; Madson, 2009). This is especially critical as counselor competence in MI has been found to predict improved client behavioral outcomes (Cox et al, 2011; McCambridge et al, 2011; Moyers, Martin, Houck, Christopher, & Tonigan, 2009).
Coaching and feedback following the initial training is essential to provide the support that counselors need as they adopt MI techniques when working with clients. Research on training counselors demonstrates the critical role of supervision and personalized feedback on practice samples (Martino, 2010). I have provided ongoing coaching and fidelity monitoring to MI counselors in diverse settings such as clinical intervention trials, HIV service agencies, community-based mental health clinics and substance abuse treatment centers.
MI supervision style is akin to MI itself; the supervisor and counselor work together to set goals. Supervision sessions are collaborative, affirmative and designed to suit the needs of the individual counselor. They may include role-play, focus on specific skills (such as using open-ended questions, making complex reflections, staging the client, etc), and / or discussion of handling specific cases.
Coaching and fidelity monitoring can be conducted in person or remotely via telephone, Internet video conferencing or chat.
Coaching and feedback following the initial training is essential to provide the support that counselors need as they adopt MI techniques when working with clients. Research on training counselors demonstrates the critical role of supervision and personalized feedback on practice samples (Martino, 2010). I have provided ongoing coaching and fidelity monitoring to MI counselors in diverse settings such as clinical intervention trials, HIV service agencies, community-based mental health clinics and substance abuse treatment centers.
MI supervision style is akin to MI itself; the supervisor and counselor work together to set goals. Supervision sessions are collaborative, affirmative and designed to suit the needs of the individual counselor. They may include role-play, focus on specific skills (such as using open-ended questions, making complex reflections, staging the client, etc), and / or discussion of handling specific cases.
Coaching and fidelity monitoring can be conducted in person or remotely via telephone, Internet video conferencing or chat.
Treatment Fidelity Assessment and Monitoring Services
Treatment fidelity coding using the Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity (MITI 4.2.1) rating system (Moyers et al, 2015) can be used to support ongoing clinical supervision as counselors work to hone their MI skills. Fidelity monitoring can also be used to evaluate the degree to which program staff or therapists on a clinical trial are implementing MI during encounters with clients.
MITI coding provides highly specific feedback on the counselor’s strengths and areas in need of practice and may also serve as evidence of post training gains (Moyers, et al, 2005). MITI coding offers feedback in two areas of MI skill: global codes signifying the counselor's adherence to the technical and relational aspects of MI; and specific MI techniques such as offering affirmations, using complex reflections, etc.
Several advantages in using the MITI as a treatment fidelity monitoring tool include:
MITI coding provides highly specific feedback on the counselor’s strengths and areas in need of practice and may also serve as evidence of post training gains (Moyers, et al, 2005). MITI coding offers feedback in two areas of MI skill: global codes signifying the counselor's adherence to the technical and relational aspects of MI; and specific MI techniques such as offering affirmations, using complex reflections, etc.
Several advantages in using the MITI as a treatment fidelity monitoring tool include:
- It offers a reliable assessment of the quality of MI delivered in a treatment session (Moyers, Martin, Manuel, Hendrickson, & Miller, 2005; Pierson et al, 2007)
- The MITI coding system is designed to assess both specific therapist behaviors as well as an overall measure of MI style
- The MITI has been shown to have good sensitivity in documenting improvements in MI as a result of training and is frequently used to supplement and enhance supervision by sharing the results of the coding with therapists (Moyers et al., 2005)
- The MITI requires only a 20 minute audio segment randomly selected from a longer session to evaluate the quality of MI being delivered in the session as a whole (Moyers et al, 2005; Pierson et al, 2007)
Recent Trainings:
Motivational Interviewing for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment. Mercy Hospital Behavioral Health program, November 2017 - January 2018. Led a two day introductory training for psychiatry, social work and mental health staff followed by individual coaching on trainee practice samples with a "standard patient" actor. Training program concluded with a one day Advanced MI training.
Motivational Interviewing for Youth and Family Services. Northern Rivers Family Services, July 25th, 26th and 27th. Led a three day intensive training for NRFS social workers, care managers and counselors. Training program concluded with monthly supervision calls and personalized MI telephone coaching on coded taped practice samples July 2017- January 2018.
Motivational Interviewing for Pediatric Asthma Navigation. Wykoff Heights Medical Center, March 10th & 17th, 2017. Led a two day intensive training for Patient Navigators, Care Coordinators, Nurses and program staff of the Pediatric Asthma Navigation Program.
Motivational Interviewing for Psychiatric Peer Navigation. Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, NY, March 24-26th, 2017. Three day intensive training for program leaders, care coordinators, managers and peers.
SAMSHA Grant Consultant for SUNY Downstate Medical College, March 2016 – July 2017. Consultant to assist the Substance Use/Alcohol Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Training Program in skills building for trainers and review of training material, specifically for components of Motivational Interviewing/Brief Negotiated Interview. This program trains primary care providers, midwives and other clinicians in SBIRT using MI with patients accessing care at SUNY Downstate.
Motivational Interviewing for Wellness Center Staff, LaGuardia Community College, CUNY, October 2016. This two day introductory training engaged Wellness Center counselors in MI for college students in distress.
Motivational Interviewing Training Coaching for Youth Workforce Development Counselors, New York City Department of Corrections, August 2016. This training program began with a two day intensive training for counselors employed at Riker’s Island working with youth in and transitioning out of juvenile detention. Following the initial training each counselor completed three rounds of practice that were MITI coded and then met with me for feedback and MI coaching.
Introduction to Motivational Interviewing for Care Coordinators and Patient Navigators. February 2016. This four half-day training intensive engaged patient navigators and care coordinators at the Peter Kruger Center for Immunological Disorders at Mt. Sinai/Beth Israel Hospital in practicing basic MI skills for engaging and retaining adults living with HIV in care. New York, NY.
Introduction to Motivational Interviewing for Prenatal and Postnatal Maternal Health. September 2015. This introductory training supported community health workers preparing to implement a new program, “Maternal Intentions”, at the Northern Manhattan Perinatal Partnership in Harlem. New York, NY.
Motivational interviewing for Patient Navigators. March – July 2015. This five workshop series engaged Patient Navigators and their supervisors in gaining competence in motivational interviewing for patients living with HIV and other chronic health conditions. The series included practice with standard patient actors and MITI 4.0 coding feedback; the series culminated in an MI supervision training. Spencer Cox Center for Health, Mt. Sinai St Luke's and Mt. Sinai Roosevelt Hospitals Institute for Advanced Medicine, New York, NY.
Sexual Health for LGBT persons in Early Recovery. December 2014. Delivered a one-day workshop on sexual health and culturally competent substance abuse treatment for addiction professionals. Connecticut Certification Board, New Haven, CT.
The Young Men’s Health Project – An empirically supported brief program for implementing Motivational Interviewing focused on substance use and the sexual health of young gay and bisexual men. May 27-30 2014. Provided workshops on a manualized 4 session protocol for supporting young HIV- men in reducing sexual risk and substance use at the invitation of the Gay Men’s Sexual Health Alliance annual skills building symposium. With Tyrel Starks. Toronto, ON CAN.
Motivational Interviewing for Treatment Engagement and Retention among Housing Unstable Men and Women with Co-Occurring Disorders. January – Present 2014. Providing a SAMHSA-funded MI training program for substance abuse, mental health and housing support staff. Mercy Medical Center in collaboration with the South Shore Association for Independent Living (SAIL). Garden City, NY.
Motivational Interviewing for HIV testing and linkage to care for women. October – December 2013. STAR Health Center of SUNY Downstate Medical Center. Providing SAMHSA-funded introductory training in MI for social work and mental health staff followed by individual supervision and coding of taped samples. Culminating in an advanced MI training. Brooklyn, NY.
Motivational Interviewing for HIV testing and connection to care. October – November 2013. South Carolina HIV/AIDS Council. Provided a SAMHSA-funded introductory training in MI for testing and social work staff followed by individual supervision and coding of taped samples. Culminating in Advanced MI training. Columbia, SC.
Multicomponent Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MMET) for Young Men who have Sex with Men of Color. May – October 2013. Help-PSI. Conducted SAMHSA-funded initial workshops in MI and MMET for social work, mental health and recruitment staff; developed assessment and feedback materials for program clients. New York, NY.
Motivational Interviewing for Substance Abuse Care. April – October 2013. Freedom Institute. Provided introductory training in MI for clinical staff followed by individual supervision and coding of taped samples. Culminated in Advanced MI training. New York, NY.
Motivational Interviewing for Low Income Health Care Patients. April – July 2013. Open Door Family Medical Center. Provided introductory MI training to social workers and health care staff, followed by rating of taped samples and an Advanced MI booster training. Ossining, NY. Motivational Interviewing in HIV Testing and Connection to Care. MI Trainer & Supervisor. Project period 02/2012 – 02/2013. In collaboration with Jeffrey Parsons, delivered introductory and advanced MI trainings to DOH subcontractors providing HIV testing and care navigation services to individuals in NYC. Training contract culminated in Training of New Trainers.
Mercy Hospital OBH with SAIL. Motivational Interviewing for Treatment Engagement and Retention among Housing Unstable Men and Women with Co-Occurring Disorders. Providing a SAMHSA-funded MI training program for substance abuse, mental health and housing support staff. Mercy Medical Center in collaboration with the South Shore Association for Independent Living (SAIL). Garden City, NY. January – Present 2014.
STAR Health Center at SUNY Downstate. Motivational Interviewing for HIV testing and linkage to care for women. STAR Health Center of SUNY Downstate Medical Center. Providing SAMHSA-funded introductory training in MI for social work and mental health staff followed by individual supervision and coding of taped samples. Culminating in an Advanced MI training. Brooklyn, NY. October – December 2013.
South Carolina HIV/AIDS Council (SCHAC). Motivational Interviewing for HIV testing and connection to care. South Carolina HIV/AIDS Council. Provided a SAMHSA-funded introductory training in MI for testing and social work staff followed by individual supervision and coding of taped samples. Columbia, SC. October – November 2013.
Help-PSI. Multicomponent Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MMET) for Young Men who have Sex with Men of Color. May – October 2013. Help-PSI. Conducted SAMHSA-funded initial workshops in MI and MMET for social work, mental health and recruitment staff; developed assessment and feedback materials for program clients. New York, NY.
Open Door Medical Center. Delivered a four-part introductory motivational interviewing workshop, followed by taping and MITI coding of trainee practice samples for center social workers, health care providers and case managers serving diverse clientele. This training will conclude with a two-part advanced MI booster workshop guided by the results of the trainee practice samples. April - July 2013, Ossining, NY.
Freedom Institute. Delivered a four-part introductory motivational interviewing training series for institute clinicians serving primarily clients with substance abuse issues. Following the introductory workshop each trainee will participate in three sessions of individual supervision with personalized MITI feedback based on taped, coded practice samples. The training series will conclude with an advanced MI training and additional training on using MI for groups. April - September 2013, New York, NY.
Help-PSI . Delivered a one-day intensive training on motivational enhancement therapy (MET) for counselors and social workers providing care for young men who have sex with men at risk for or recently diagnosed with HIV. May 2013: Bronx, NY.
Greenhope Housing Services for Women. Delivered a two day introductory training, including fidelity coding of taped samples. Also trained the Clinical Director in Motivational Interviewing Supervision Techniques and continue to provide ongoing supervision and fidelity monitoring on taped practice samples. An advanced MI booster training is scheduled for later this year. This project is supported by a grant from SAMHSA. May 2012 - December 2012: New York, NY
New York City Department of Health (DOH) Grantees: Motivational Interviewing for HIV Testing and Connection to Care; Motivational Interviewing for Harm Reduction. With Jeffrey Parsons, Tyrel Starks, Alex Brousset and Catherine Holder of the Center for HIV Educational Studies and Training (CHEST). Provided a year-long series of two-day motivational interviewing introductory workshops, one-day booster workshops and individual supervision incorporating MITI feedback for HIV testing and connection to care counselors and harm reduction counselors receiving DOH funding in New York City. Training series concluded with a training of trainers (TOT) course. February 2012 - February 2013: New York, NY.
Center for Motivation and Change with National Development Research Institutes: Motivational Interviewing for Health Risk Behaviors. Delivered a two-day introductory training to CMC clinicians and research staff from NDRI with individual supervision and feedback utilizing MITI coding to evaluate taped practice samples. November – December, 2011: New York, NY
Center for Motivation and Change: Advanced Motivational Interviewing. Delivered a one-day booster training on advanced MI skills and combining MI with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Training guided by feedback samples gathered following introductory training for clinical staff. October 2011: New York, NY.
Center for Motivation and Change: Motivational Interviewing with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Substance Abuse. Delivered six-week workshop series for the clinical psychologists and doctoral trainees employed at the Center for Motivation and Change. Included MITI coding of trainee practice, with individual supervision and feedback. July – August 2011: New York, NY.
Bowling Green State University: Motivational Interviewing for Diverse Populations. Delivered a one-day MI training with an emphasis on working with diverse communities for doctoral students and faculty in the clinical psychology program. April 2011: Bowling Green, OH.
Center for Motivation and Change: Motivational Interviewing for Substance Abuse. Delivered six-week workshop series for the clinical psychologists employed at the Center for Motivation and Change. Included MITI coding of trainee practice, with individual supervision and feedback. March – April 2011: New York, NY.
Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality, Annual Meeting. Delivered continuing education learning session on basic MI theory and techniques to meeting attendants. November 2010: Las Vegas, NV.
Housing Works. Trained case managers and outreach workers serving HIV+ individuals in introductory MI techniques. May 2010. With Stephen Brazill. New York, NY.
Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality, Annual Meeting. Delivered continuing education learning session on basic MI theory and techniques to meeting attendants. November 2009: Puerta Vallarta, MX.
The Men’s Health Project. Trained new counselors in motivational interviewing for sexual risk reduction and substance use reduction or cessation among HIV- men who have sex with men. May 2009: New York, NY.
Special Projects of National Significance. Trained outreach workers, counselors, social workers and nurses in motivational interviewing to retain newly diagnosed HIV+ clients in care. With Jeffrey Parsons. April 2009: Houston, TX.
Healthy Choices Thailand. Delivered final booster training in motivational interviewing to a counselor and supervisor utilizing MITI coding feedback. March 2009: Bangkok, TH.
Project ACE. Training counselors in motivational interviewing to reduce crystal methamphetamine use and improve medication adherence among HIV+ men who have sex with men. August 2008: New York, NY
Healthy Choices Thailand. Delivered advanced training in motivational interviewing to a counselor and supervisor implementing a behavioral intervention for HIV+ Thai youth. July 2008: Bangkok, TH.
Special Projects of National Significance; Young Men of Color who have Sex with Men. Trained outreach workers, social workers, nurses and counselors in motivational interviewing for young men of color living with HIV. April 2008: Houston, TX. With Jeffrey Parsons.
Transgender Group Intervention Reaffirming Living Safely (T-GIRLS). Peer facilitator training for a transgender-led group intervention using motivational interviewing for health risk behaviors. December 2007: New York, NY & Jersey City, NJ. With Jose Nanin
Healthy Choices Thailand. Trained motivational interviewing supervisor for a behavioral intervention for HIV+ Thai youth. November 2007: Bangkok, TH. With Sylvie Naar-King and Jeffrey Parsons.
Young Men’s Health Project. Delivered a booster training in motivational interviewing for newly trained counselors working with at-risk HIV- men who have sex with men. July 2007: New York, NY.
Young Men’s Health Project. Trained counselors in motivational interviewing for sexual risk and substance use among HIV- men who have sex with men. March 2007: New York, NY. With James Kelleher.
Freedom Institute. Delivered a four-part introductory motivational interviewing training series for institute clinicians serving primarily clients with substance abuse issues. Following the introductory workshop each trainee will participate in three sessions of individual supervision with personalized MITI feedback based on taped, coded practice samples. The training series will conclude with an advanced MI training and additional training on using MI for groups. April - September 2013, New York, NY.
Help-PSI . Delivered a one-day intensive training on motivational enhancement therapy (MET) for counselors and social workers providing care for young men who have sex with men at risk for or recently diagnosed with HIV. May 2013: Bronx, NY.
Greenhope Housing Services for Women. Delivered a two day introductory training, including fidelity coding of taped samples. Also trained the Clinical Director in Motivational Interviewing Supervision Techniques and continue to provide ongoing supervision and fidelity monitoring on taped practice samples. An advanced MI booster training is scheduled for later this year. This project is supported by a grant from SAMHSA. May 2012 - December 2012: New York, NY
New York City Department of Health (DOH) Grantees: Motivational Interviewing for HIV Testing and Connection to Care; Motivational Interviewing for Harm Reduction. With Jeffrey Parsons, Tyrel Starks, Alex Brousset and Catherine Holder of the Center for HIV Educational Studies and Training (CHEST). Provided a year-long series of two-day motivational interviewing introductory workshops, one-day booster workshops and individual supervision incorporating MITI feedback for HIV testing and connection to care counselors and harm reduction counselors receiving DOH funding in New York City. Training series concluded with a training of trainers (TOT) course. February 2012 - February 2013: New York, NY.
Center for Motivation and Change with National Development Research Institutes: Motivational Interviewing for Health Risk Behaviors. Delivered a two-day introductory training to CMC clinicians and research staff from NDRI with individual supervision and feedback utilizing MITI coding to evaluate taped practice samples. November – December, 2011: New York, NY
Center for Motivation and Change: Advanced Motivational Interviewing. Delivered a one-day booster training on advanced MI skills and combining MI with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Training guided by feedback samples gathered following introductory training for clinical staff. October 2011: New York, NY.
Center for Motivation and Change: Motivational Interviewing with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Substance Abuse. Delivered six-week workshop series for the clinical psychologists and doctoral trainees employed at the Center for Motivation and Change. Included MITI coding of trainee practice, with individual supervision and feedback. July – August 2011: New York, NY.
Bowling Green State University: Motivational Interviewing for Diverse Populations. Delivered a one-day MI training with an emphasis on working with diverse communities for doctoral students and faculty in the clinical psychology program. April 2011: Bowling Green, OH.
Center for Motivation and Change: Motivational Interviewing for Substance Abuse. Delivered six-week workshop series for the clinical psychologists employed at the Center for Motivation and Change. Included MITI coding of trainee practice, with individual supervision and feedback. March – April 2011: New York, NY.
Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality, Annual Meeting. Delivered continuing education learning session on basic MI theory and techniques to meeting attendants. November 2010: Las Vegas, NV.
Housing Works. Trained case managers and outreach workers serving HIV+ individuals in introductory MI techniques. May 2010. With Stephen Brazill. New York, NY.
Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality, Annual Meeting. Delivered continuing education learning session on basic MI theory and techniques to meeting attendants. November 2009: Puerta Vallarta, MX.
The Men’s Health Project. Trained new counselors in motivational interviewing for sexual risk reduction and substance use reduction or cessation among HIV- men who have sex with men. May 2009: New York, NY.
Special Projects of National Significance. Trained outreach workers, counselors, social workers and nurses in motivational interviewing to retain newly diagnosed HIV+ clients in care. With Jeffrey Parsons. April 2009: Houston, TX.
Healthy Choices Thailand. Delivered final booster training in motivational interviewing to a counselor and supervisor utilizing MITI coding feedback. March 2009: Bangkok, TH.
Project ACE. Training counselors in motivational interviewing to reduce crystal methamphetamine use and improve medication adherence among HIV+ men who have sex with men. August 2008: New York, NY
Healthy Choices Thailand. Delivered advanced training in motivational interviewing to a counselor and supervisor implementing a behavioral intervention for HIV+ Thai youth. July 2008: Bangkok, TH.
Special Projects of National Significance; Young Men of Color who have Sex with Men. Trained outreach workers, social workers, nurses and counselors in motivational interviewing for young men of color living with HIV. April 2008: Houston, TX. With Jeffrey Parsons.
Transgender Group Intervention Reaffirming Living Safely (T-GIRLS). Peer facilitator training for a transgender-led group intervention using motivational interviewing for health risk behaviors. December 2007: New York, NY & Jersey City, NJ. With Jose Nanin
Healthy Choices Thailand. Trained motivational interviewing supervisor for a behavioral intervention for HIV+ Thai youth. November 2007: Bangkok, TH. With Sylvie Naar-King and Jeffrey Parsons.
Young Men’s Health Project. Delivered a booster training in motivational interviewing for newly trained counselors working with at-risk HIV- men who have sex with men. July 2007: New York, NY.
Young Men’s Health Project. Trained counselors in motivational interviewing for sexual risk and substance use among HIV- men who have sex with men. March 2007: New York, NY. With James Kelleher.