Introduction to Motivational Interviewing Training
August 10, 2026 2026-08-13 0:17Introduction to Motivational Interviewing Training
Introduction to Motivational Interviewing Training
Motivational Interviewing training should be practical, experiential and grounded in real conversations. This Introduction to MI workshop is designed for professionals who want to strengthen their ability to support change through skilled, compassionate and person-centred conversations.
Workshops are available for practitioners and organisations across the UK and Ireland, with Public Health Agency funded training available for eligible services and practitioners in Northern Ireland.
View Upcoming MI TrainingWhat is Introduction to Motivational Interviewing Training?
Our Motivational Interviewing workshops are designed for professionals who want to strengthen their ability to support change through purposeful conversation. Whether you work in mental health, smoking cessation, substance use, health, social care, education, youth work or criminal justice, the emphasis is on learning skills that can be applied directly within everyday practice.
At Glenn Hinds Motivation & Coaching Consultants, workshops combine concise theory, demonstration, guided practice, reflection and real-play. Commissioned organisational programmes are tailored to your context, service users and learning goals, while open programmes bring together practitioners from a range of services and professional backgrounds.
Developing Core Motivational Interviewing Skills
Participants explore the relational foundations of MI and develop practical skills for conversations where change matters and people may feel uncertain, ambivalent or stuck.
The Spirit and Tasks of MI
Explore partnership, acceptance, compassion and empowerment, alongside the four tasks of engaging, focusing, evoking and planning.
Communication Skills
Develop reflective listening, open questions, affirmations and summaries, with particular attention to listening for meaning rather than simply gathering information.
Conversations About Change
Learn to recognise and strengthen change talk, respond skilfully to sustain talk and work constructively with ambivalence without arguing for change.
From Learning to Practice
Use demonstrations, live exercises, case discussion and real-play scenarios to connect MI principles and skills with the conversations you have in your own role.
What Participants Can Take Back to Practice
Through active participation and practice, learners have opportunities to strengthen their ability to:
- Build trust and engagement through reflective listening
- Recognise and strengthen a person’s own motivation for change
- Respond effectively to ambivalence and sustain talk
- Reduce the pull of the righting reflex and avoid unnecessary persuasion
- Share information and advice while respecting autonomy
- Support people to develop and commit to achievable plans when they are ready
- Integrate MI skills into multidisciplinary practice and service delivery
By the end of the training, participants should have a clearer understanding of what Motivational Interviewing is, how it differs from simply giving advice, and how its principles and skills can be used within day-to-day professional conversations.
Motivational Interviewing Across Professional Settings
Introduction to MI training is suitable for practitioners, managers and teams whose work involves supporting people to consider or make changes. This includes professionals working in mental health, substance use, smoking cessation, primary care, social work, social care, youth services, education, housing, criminal justice and community services.
No previous Motivational Interviewing experience is required for an introductory programme.
Open, Organisational and PHA-Funded MI Training
Open workshops are scheduled throughout the year. Organisations can also commission bespoke training shaped around their workforce, service context and learning priorities.
Public Health Agency funded Motivational Interviewing training is available for eligible practitioners and services in Northern Ireland. Eligibility, dates and programme details are shown on the relevant event listing.
Explore Upcoming Motivational Interviewing TrainingReady to Develop Your Motivational Interviewing Skills?
Explore upcoming introductory MI workshops, funded programmes and other training opportunities.
View Upcoming Training