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Motivational Interviewing with Expert Citizens Insight Academy Feb 2024 "Excellent!"


‘Inspiring Change Behaviour’ Motivational Interviewing.

I think Inspiring Change is possibly my most popular course, it certainly gets the troops talking, put it that way. My approach to Motivational Interviewing (MI) and the way in which I relate it to lived experience and positive stories of post traumatic growth goes a long way in demonstrating how MI skills can benefit the work place. It is not a ‘solve all’ approach, what it is, is a weapon in your arsenal. A skill that can be used in a variety of situations.

My training films and interviews reflect this as we follow Colin, who has issues with alcohol, drugs and homelessness. Sandra who has mental health issues and various other people who kindly allowed me into their lives to tell their stories. I deliver various versions of the course, some are child social care specific, some are mental health specific. And others, like this training was a mixture to reflect the learners attending from various agencies across Stoke on Trent.


The aim and objectives of the course are:


The Aim: By the completion of this course, you will have clear over-view of what Motivational Interviewing (MI) is and how to begin putting it into practice.



The Objectives: By the end of the first day’s session, you will have:

1. Described the principles behind MI.

2. Explored ambivalence and how to reduce resistance and sustain talk.

3. Explored Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.

4. Explained the reasons to avoid SMOG language.

5. Described the importance of open questions that avoid ‘why.’

6. Analysed what is meant by ‘active listening’ as defined by Carl Rogers.

7. Explored ‘change talk’ and boosting the intrinsic need for change.


Objectives: By the end of the second day’s session, you will have:


1. Described the principles behind (the Miller and Rollnick approach to) Motivational Interviewing.

2. Explored scaling.

3. Discovered where dangerous assumptions can lead.

4. Explored the theory of ‘roadblocks.’

5. Described the different theories of ‘rolling with resistance’ and ‘sustain talk.’

6. Explored how to reduce and resolve resistance and ambivalence.

7. Taken part in Motivational Interviewing.


I recently delivered the two-day version to a variety of professionals from across Stoke on Trent. It was a packed training room courtesy of Expert Citizens Insight Academy who organised the training event. Feedback has been amazing and I’m very pleased with the comments.


On completion of the training session has your knowledge increased? 100% positive response


What did you learn during this session?


“New communication tactics to be a better listener; how to enable a resident to open up & be able to explore their opportunities to change.”

“Loads, lots of new skills and practice.”

“Nothing that wasn’t there, lots to implement moving forward.”

“How to respond using a variety of questions and sentence types to inspire and motivate.”

“Learnt reflections when having a conversation with a client, removing "buts" for "and", realising the difference between simple, double sided and amplified.”

“All about motivational interviewing, RULES, OARS.”

“An understanding & terms behind approaches & how to put into practice, No - nothing missing.”

“Very complete training, only thing I would like is more skills to deal with extremely closed off clients, road blocks, question types, six step all useful.”

“Six Step Change Plan, Useful techniques for helping people make changes they want. Nothing missing I can think of.”

“I learnt many different ways to work with my clients. I learnt how to help me approach conversations in a different way.”

“I did this training about 12 years ago in North Somerset - this was much more detailed & helped me reflect on my own language. I work with victims of crime - some of whom have different support to what was discussed, moving on from shock / stressful situations would have helped me.”

“Very informal, delivered well, maybe a bit more person-centred theory relevant to introductions, possibly covered in the advanced course.”

“Multiple interviewing techniques - lots of varied ways and examples, I don’t think there is anything not included.”

“How to support clients using MI.”

“A good format for speaking to customers, I liked the summarizing + affirming parts of the conversation.”

“I have learnt sooooo much from this training - how to word things when talking to clients. how to use single, double and amplified, just everything was great.”

“Motivational Interviewing, OARS, RULES, Reflection, Summarising.”


How will the training you experienced shape your practice in the future?


“New strategies to communicate.”

“It will change how I interact with clients.”

“I will practice, find further reading and definitely use this moving forward.”

“I will use it regularly.”

“With having conversations with clients and promoting recovery.”

“I will use tools learnt during the training, stop using the word "but" also the six-step change plan.”

“Applying the methods in assessments with C&YP who offer feel "done to" due to the perceived risk they pose.”

“Use the techniques with clients.”

“I will use the change plan and other techniques covered.”

“The training will shape my practice by supporting me & best help my clients.”

“Use methods used to help victim recover from trauma & or be prepared to open up and liaise with courts & police.”

“Hopefully inform my interactions / thinking during individual support sessions.”

“Assessments of clients will be easier, more cautious of responses with clients.”

“I feel I will better be able to engage with clients and support them to meet there needs.”

“Yes - I will definitely try to implement some of what I have been taught.”

“I hope it makes me a much better motivational speaking that I can use in all my future roles & career.”

“Can implement in 1:1 and group sessions with clients.”

“Allow me to develop a better way to communicate with client.”


Would you recommend this training session to others and why?


“Definitely, new opportunities to communicate openly.”

“Yes - It showed us "how" to use and implement the skills.”

“Absolutely! It’s made me look at my own communicative style and can see where things can change / improve.”

“The trainer was great.”

“Yes, very fun and knowledgeable.”

“Yes absolutely it has been a great use and I can see how this could be implemented.”

“Yes - really engaging training Steven was knowledgeable, open & relatable.”

“Yes, far too many positives to write.”

“Yes, Very Useful and fun, Trainer made it fun and interesting - very engaging.”

“Yes I definitely would recommend Steven to my work team.”

“Yes, holistic / human way to interact / support people with trauma. Really enjoyed the session.”

“Yes, I really enjoyed it. It was engaging and informative. The examples being real was great and the videos were helpful.”

“Yes I think it is a great way of working people rather than staff telling them how you think they should "fill" their lives.”

“Yes, the training was concise, FUN... and it was informative.... did not fall asleep in the afternoon lunch on the 2nd day danger zone!”

“Yes its informative and Steve delivered the training so greatly.”

“Yes, interactive, engaging and informative.”

“Yes fun great info and good laugh.”


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