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Motivational interviewing is recognised as one of the most effective approaches to intervention with substance-using populations. Developed by Miller and Rollnick (2013) in the 1970s and ‘80s, it has evolved from its origins in addiction treatment to be widely applied in the helping professions, and with health behaviour. The motivational interviewing approach incorporates a guiding communication style and client-centred techniques, which are designed to encourage resolution of ambivalence in order to facilitate behaviour change. As an orientation towards clients and as a practical method, motivational interviewing is a core skill for working with substance-using populations.

This course is divided into three parts. The first part concerns foundation principles of motivational interviewing, and includes exploring the underlying spirit of motivational interviewing and core counselling skills required, such as using open questions and reflections. The second part of the course focuses on the four processes in the `dance' of motivational interviewing, in which you engage the client, find a direction for your work together, evoke reasons for change, and then move into planning. The final aspect of the course pertains to ethics and culture, both of which are either mandated or recommended aspects of training in the health professions. The knowledge components of the course are provided in a structured 10-module format, while the skills component is completed on an ongoing basis, leading up to submission of the assessable skills task at the end of semester.

On completion of this course students should be able to:

1. Apply knowledge of ambivalence and ‘sustain talk' as expected elements in the change process;
2. Use the core counselling skills of motivational interviewing: asking open questions, affirming the client, reflecting and summarising;
3. Apply knowledge of the four processes of motivational interviewing;
4. Complete a motivational interview counselling intervention with a client;
5. Critically reflect on their performance in adhering to the motivational interview framework and identify areas for improvement;
6. Discuss ethical and cultural issues in the application of motivational interviewing.