“The training was fantastic and I highly recommend it." Motivational Interviewing Training with Staffordshire County Council, Dec 2025
- carefulsilly12
- Dec 18, 2025
- 3 min read
Hello all,
As we near the Yule, I often begin to slow down and reflect. 2025 has been the year of meeting some truly inspirational people. Learners from across a variety of organisations. Thanks to the wonderful people at Staffordshire County Council, I have been fortunate enough to meet an array of professionals who have made an indelible mark upon me. Kind, compassionate, wise and informed. I have been blown away by the learners on my Motivational Interviewing course for Children and Families.
The course is a fully interactive journey through the principle of motivational interviewing and how you can start putting the skills into practice right now. It comes with various films that I have created myself for the learners. I choose which films to show when I know who is attending the training and what their roles are. As with all of my training, there are lots of interactive learning tools and various techniques that instil the learning.
Feedback has been phenomenally good, 100% positive and I LOVE receiving feedback like this:
“It was all just so useful. It was particularly effective in how each section flowed and gave us chance to rehearse in a relaxed and supportive environment- with humour too! I am really interested to read more on motivational interviewing and practice this with the school community.”
And:
“I just wanted to say how amazing this training has been. It’s been so informative, it’s going to be excellent to see how I can better support people with these techniques and understanding the theory behind them. It does sound cliche, but I feel as I’ve been through a journey today, working with the other people enrolled onto the course, discussing the barriers we all face and all learning together how to better prepare ourselves for the future, is so inspiring. Steven, you have been an amazing tutor within all of this. You are amazing!!”
Aim and objectives? Why, they are right here:
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.
Objectives: By the end of today’s session, you will have
1. Described the principles behind MI.
2. Explored ambivalence and how to reduce resistance and sustain talk.
3. Explained the reasons to avoid SMOG language.
4. Explored dangerous assumptions with regard to motivation.
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.
8. Described the various reflection techniques used within MI.
9. Taken part in MI.
A smattering of the feedback comments? Oh, why not, it is Christmas!
“I would absolutely recommend this training; it was a great day and will benefit my practice.”
“Already have, and I want to develop my skills further. Steven is the best trainer, informative, knowledgeable, relatable, funny and blooming ace. Can’t wait to do further training.”
“The training was fantastic and I highly recommend it. I have recently completed Life Coaching and CBT courses so feel what I have learnt on this course will enhance what I have learnt in those courses, as well as improving communication in my current job roles.”
“I really enjoyed it, it was very engaging. I think it makes a massive difference hearing from someone with lots of first-hand experience of using the techniques.”
“Very useful and engaging.”