Motivational Interviewing: Adding Another Tool into the Toolbox

Introduction

As part of the sharing of learning ethos within our training strategy at Social Return, we held an open course on Motivational Interviewing. We were able to welcome Verna Morris, (Brain Injury Specialist OT and Counsellor) and a wide audience of people who work in neurology services in the northern area including nurses, advocates, client liaison officers, therapists and third sector partners. We also enjoyed excellent opportunities for networking and developing relationships in addition to learning, and this has a beneficial effect for our clients as they travel along their rehabilitation pathway.
 
What is Motivational Interviewing?

Motivational Interviewing seeks to facilitate and engage the client’s intrinsic motivation in order to elicit change behaviour. The use of goals is key to the process, helping clients to explore and resolve ambivalence. The examination and resolution of ambivalence is a central purpose, and the counsellor is intentionally directive in pursuing this goal.
 
Key Concepts

Acceptance of the fact that clients approach therapy at different levels of readiness to change their behaviour in key. In order for a therapist to be successful at motivational interviewing, four basic interaction skills should first be established. These skills include:
 

• the ability to ask open-ended questions
• the ability to provide affirmations
• the capacity for reflective listening
• the ability to periodically provide summary statements to the client.

 
These skills are used strategically, to increase the client's awareness of the potential problems caused, consequences experienced, and risks faced as a result of the behaviour in question.

Conclusion 

The course gave an excellent opportunity to understand why we act the way we do when working with clients, and to explore the spirit of MI in order to underpin learning of the 4 processes of MI.
 
The concept of Motivational Interviewing is such a vast one and the tools provided in the teaching sessions were excellent – and put to use the very next day by our case managers wishing to enhance engagement. Practising use of the tools was valuable in the safe environment created within the group, enabling discussion and support.
 
Delegates were able to take away skills, resources and a well put together booklet to use as a tool to develop and reflect on their practise. The feedback received was resoundingly positive and this is a direct reflection on the organisation, presentation and content of the course.
 
Some feedback received on the day included:
 
“Kept me interested and challenged throughout”
“Awesome”
“Informative, knowledgeable and personal approach”
 
The 2 day course was such an enjoyable and successful training opportunity that we aim to hold further training to build on the knowledge already gained later on in the year.

Jackie Waggott
Director of Operations
& Case Manager