Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a collaborative conversation style for strengthening a person’s own motivation and commitment to change. In other words, it is “a way of helping people give voice to their own reasons for change.” 
 - Miller & Rollnick, 2013

Brief Motivational Interventions (BMI) are conversations based on Motivational Interviewing that last from 15-30 minutes and incorporate specific clinical tasks that have been widely implemented and tested to be effective in addressing alcohol misuse and related problems, as well as other health-related behaviors.

MI/BMI research has demonstrated improvements in clinical care and can transform organizational culture. MI/BMI approaches are client-centered, strengths-based, and have been found to work best with clients who are angry, resistant, or less ready to change. Thus, MI/BMI are a cost-effective replacement for less effective intervention methods. Our Center Director, Craig Field, has conducted extensive research in BMI, which has indicated that these interventions are more effective than standard care, particularly among binge drinking Hispanics in medical settings. Our Trainers, Patricia Juarez and Reyna Puentes, are two of four members of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) in El Paso.

Since its beginning in 1983, there are now more than 1,100 clinical trials published that support MI’s efficacy at reducing engagement in destructive behaviors, such as substance misuse and other health risk behaviors, and at promoting engagement in health behaviors, such as physical activity, medication adherence, and program compliance. Both MI and BMI are verifiable with regard to whether they are being implemented at the quality standards necessary to improve client outcomes. With adequate training, MI and BMI have been implemented by providers at any level of education or professional experience, such as counselors, social workers, pharmacists, nurses, peer support specialists, and community health workers.

Both MI and BMI have been shown to be appropriate for providers at any level of education or profession who may be involved in crucial roles for helping people make better health decisions for themselves. These providers might include physicians, nurses, health educators, care managers, social workers, counselors, psychologists, community health workers, peer support specialists, probation/supervision officers, personal trainers, and others.

We know from research that, in order to have the desired client outcomes, providers must adhere to the basic quality standards of MI and BMI practice, which require post-training enhancement activities, such as advanced booster trainings, learning group practice sessions, and individualized feedback and coaching based on audio samples (Miller et al., 2004).

Throughout the trainings offered by the LAHDR Center, you will learn and practice the components necessary to increase your confidence and ability to implement MI/BMI at your organizational setting:

• Avoid the "Righting Reflex" and other clinical behaviors that may inhibit change. 
• Learn to understand client ambivalence with evocative questions and client-centered interviewing techniques that will help move your clients toward resolution in favor of change.
• Learn and practice core the skills and spirit of MI/BMI to cultivate intrinsic motivation and commitment to change.
• Apply the basic structure and tools of MI/BMI to facilitate client conversations that evoke and promote their own motivation to change.
• Learn to offer pertinent information and advice in an MI-consistent way that would maximize the likelihood of this information being incorporated into the client’s decision-making processes.
• Negotiate goals and plans for action in a collaborative way that emphasizes the individuals own readiness to change and promotes higher personal commitment.
• Adjust your language, attitude, style, pace, and intervention strategies to identify Change Talk and Sustain Talk and respond more effectively and strategically to both.
• Most importantly, you will be able to have more pleasant, meaningful, and productive conversations with your clients that promote long lasting change.

State-of-the-art training and personalized coaching by members of the MINT, which includes:

• Tailored training materials and intervention tools
• Printed copies of slides and handouts
• Certificates of completion for all training hours
• Opportunity to network with other providers in the community to support skill maintenance and high-quality implementation 

To become a high-quality MI/BMI provider, you can start off by committing to a minimum of 16 hours of Introductory Training and be willing to submit audio samples to be evaluated for quality assurance. We know from research that submitting audio samples and receiving personalized feedback and coaching are among the best steps a learner can take to increase their skill level to the high-quality standards to produce desired changes in client outcomes. 

Any person interested in providing training in MI/BMI must first receive training, coaching, and supervision as a provider and must demonstrate proficiency based on current quality standards provided by the Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity 4.2.1 Coding System. This person must also demonstrate commitment to develop Champion skills by attending trainings with our Trainers (or other MINT Trainers), facilitating group practices, and providing feedback/coaching in an MI-adherent manner. Eventually, this person will be asked to co-train with a MINT trainer and demonstrate the ability to model MI skills throughout the training. 

At the LAHDR Center, we specialize in combining the aspects of Motivational Interviewing in Brief Interventions. Below are video examples of Brief Motivational Interventions, which demonstrate the tasks of a Brief Intervention supplemented with the Motivational Interviewing spirit and skills. 

Brief Motivational Intervention for addressing Alcohol Misuse (in ENGLISH): 

Health Clinic 

Probation 

University 

Brief Motivational Intervention for addressing Alcohol Misuse (in SPANISH): 

Health Clinic 

Probation 

University