Providers regularly encounter clients whose behavior may pose a serious threat to their health and the health of their loved ones. Motivational Interviewing is a method in which providers guide the client to think through and resolve their ambivalence about behavior change. The goal of MI is to encourage the client to be an active participant in the change process. Providers guide the exploration of the client’s personal experiences and thoughts about behavior changes, with the intention of evoking their intrinsic motivation to change so that they can make the best decisions for their life and health.

This workshop will cover the following topics:

• What is Motivational Interviewing (MI)? 
• The Spirit of MI
• Why MI for adolescents and emerging adults?
• Why MI for Alaska Native youth?
• Exploring ambivalence
• MI concepts:
• Open ended questions
• Affirmations
• Reflections
• Summaries
• Recognizing and eliciting Change Talk
• Discussion of free online training tool for conducting MI with adolescents