An Introduction to Motivational Interviewing
LEVEL
Professional Development
AWARD
PCI College Certificate of Attendance
COURSE STATUS
Open for Applications
DURATION
1
day(s)
Full-Time
DELIVERY
Online
COMMENCEMENT DATE
4 Jul 2026
LOCATIONS
Online
Change is inherently difficult, and many clients find themselves stuck in a state of ambivalence, knowing they need to change but feeling unable to take the first step.
This PCI College workshop introduces you to Motivational Interviewing (MI), a highly effective, evidence-based approach designed to resolve this ambivalence and build the client’s internal motivation. By learning to move away from the “expert” role and toward a collaborative partnership, you will empower your clients to find their own reasons for change, leading to more sustainable and meaningful progress in your therapeutic work.
Who is this course for?
This course is designed for counsellors, psychotherapists, and professionals in the helping sector who work with clients facing resistance, reluctance, or ambivalence toward change.
- Counsellors & Therapists: Gain a powerful tool to navigate resistance and foster deeper client autonomy.
- Helping Professionals: Social workers, addiction support workers, and nurses can use MI to improve engagement and outcomes.
- Students in Training: Master one of the most respected, client-centred communication styles early in your professional journey.
- Health & Wellness Coaches: Develop a conversational framework that encourages clients to take ownership of their own health goals.
What are the benefits of doing this course?
MI is more than a technique; it is a way of being with a client that reduces conflict and increases the likelihood of positive change.
- Reduced Resistance: Learn how to sidestep the “righting reflex” to avoid the common trap of arguing with clients about their change process.
- Enhanced Engagement: Build a stronger therapeutic alliance by creating an environment where the client feels heard, understood, and motivated.
- Sustainable Outcomes: Shift the focus from external pressure to internal motivation, leading to more lasting and effective behaviour change.
- Increased Flexibility: Add a versatile, evidence-based model to your clinical toolkit that works across a variety of therapeutic settings.
What will you learn?
The course provides a balance of theoretical understanding and hands-on skill-building, focusing on the core “spirit” of Motivational Interviewing.
- The Spirit of MI: Understanding the four core elements of MI: Partnership, Acceptance, Compassion, and Evocation.
- Core Skills (OARS): Mastering the essential communication micro-skills: Open-ended questions, Affirmations, Reflective listening, and Summarising.
- Resolving Ambivalence: Techniques to help clients explore the “pros and cons” of change and identify their own intrinsic motivators.
- Responding to Change: Learning how to recognise and elicit “change talk,” the language that signals a client is ready to move forward.
- Practical Application: Through live practice and role-play, you will experience how to apply MI strategies in real-time therapeutic conversations.
Course Content
The workshop will orient attendees to all the broad tenets of MI using theory, conversation, and skills practice, with an emphasis on how it may be applied in their own areas of work. The main content will include:
- Understanding and defining how Motivational Interviewing was developed
- Theoretical background and research base
- The Spirit of MI
- The principles and processes of MI
- Understanding ambivalence and motivation
- The psycholinguistics of change and commitment
- Clinician stance and avoiding traps
- MI applications in diverse settings
- How to build on your skills after the workshop
Eligibility
This is a CPD workshop specifically designed for Counsellors & Psychotherapist or other helping professionals with therapeutic experience and students currently in professional training. BSc Counselling & Psychotherapy students in Years 1, 2, 3 and 4 of their studies are all invited to apply for this CPD workshop.
IT Skills
Students require sufficient IT skills to complete the course.
Additional Entry Requirements
Students can expect to be provided with advice and support concerning any learning difficulties that they may encounter. Any diagnosed learning difficulty, e.g. dyslexia, must be noted on the application.
Fees
Standard Rate: Applies to all non-affiliated participants.
PCI College Graduate: Discounted rate available for graduates of BSc Degree and Postgraduate programmes.
Current BSc/MSc Students & Alumni Members: Preferential rate available. Join our Alumni Group on LinkedIn to access this discount
Course Fees – Northern Ireland
Course Total