The purpose of this program is to help attendees understand motivational interviewing, and why it is so powerful in helping patients engage in healthy behaviors. Motivational interviewing is NOT about motivating patients. It is about assessing their motivation to engage in a health behavior (taking their meds, quitting smoking, losing weight, etc.); and then using appropriate skills and principles to address patient ambivalence and resistance, along with reinforcing and maintaining healthy behavior.

This session will demonstrate the principles and skills of motivational interviewing, and focus on how to assist the patient in making the argument for change. Motivational interviewing is a patient-centered approach that uses the patient’s internal motivation for change.

After attending this session, participants will be able to:

v   Explain the spirit of motivational interviewing.

v   Identify key factors in assessing a patient's motivation to adhere to a health behavior.

v   Explain why the principle mode of healthcare, provider-patient communication is often ineffective.

v   Understand readiness for change, ambivalence, resistance, dissonance; and their role in motivation.

v   Discuss and apply the principles of motivational interviewing.

v   Examine decisional balance, a look over the fence, the envelope, and “the insurance card” as tools for enhancing change and change talk.