Motivational Interviewing - 10th February 2026

This interactive training session introduces healthcare professionals to Motivational Interviewing (MI), a powerful, client-centred counselling approach for supporting behaviour change. MI is an evidence-based technique that helps clients explore and resolve ambivalence about changing health behaviours. Rather than telling people what to do, MI recognises opportunities to have meaningful conversations about wellbeing using the skills of asking and listening. This training will equip you with practical skills to enhance the conversations you're already having with clients across all health improvement areas.

Information about this training

This comprehensive training covers the spirit and principles of Motivational Interviewing, including how to resist the righting reflex, explore people's motivations, listen with empathy, and empower clients. Participants will learn core MI skills (OARS - Open questions, Affirmations, Reflections, Summaries) and how to elicit change talk using the DARN-C framework (Desire, Ability, Reasons, Need, Commitment). The session includes practical activities exploring tools such as decisional balance grids, change rulers, and scaling questions. The training demonstrates how MI can be applied to tackle health inequalities across smoking cessation, alcohol reduction, physical activity, and healthy eating. Evidence shows MI is 10-20% more effective than no treatment and is effective in approximately 75% of participants. The content of this training may be adapted throughout the year in response to participant feedback and emerging updates to ensure it remains current, relevant, and aligned with service needs.”

Learning outcomes

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Understand the spirit, principles, and core skills of Motivational Interviewing
• Use open discovery questions effectively to help clients explore issues and plan change
• Practice reflective listening and spend more time listening than giving information
• Apply the five key principles of MI: express empathy, develop discrepancy, avoid argumentation, roll with resistance, and support self-efficacy
• Utilize OARS skills (Open questions, Affirmations, Reflections, Summaries) in client conversations
• Elicit and recognize change talk using the DARN-C framework
• Use MI tools including decisional balance grids, change rulers, and scaling questions
• Support clients with SMARTER goal setting
• Apply MI techniques to address health inequalities across multiple health behaviours
• Understand different response styles and their impact on client engagement

Who is the course aimed at?

This training is aimed at all healthcare professionals and frontline staff who have conversations with clients about health behaviour change. This includes stop smoking advisors, health trainers, pharmacy staff, practice nurses, health visitors, community health workers, and anyone delivering health improvement services in Hertfordshire. The course is particularly valuable for those working with clients who are ambivalent about change or who have multiple health behaviour risk factors.

Entry requirements to do this course

None

How you will be assessed

No assessment for this training.

What happens after I book this training?

After booking the training, you'll receive a confirmation email with pre-course requirements and course details. Post-training, a follow-up email will provide instructions to complete for your participation certificate. You'll also have the option to engage in follow-up communication.

Contact us details

01442 453 071

HealthImprovementService@hertfordshire.gov.uk

Venue

Online (MS Teams)