Motivational Interviewing

Wrestling with a big decision? Feeling pulled in opposite directions as one part wants to make a change while the other doesn't? Thinking of leaving your job, changing careers, or starting a company? Contemplating whether to smoke less weed, get married, or have kids? Through Motivational Interviewing, we'll work through ambivalence so you're no longer stuck or conflicted. We'll explore your reasons for change, problem solve barriers, and set you up for success.

I have attended over 100 hours of training in Motivational Interviewing and led training for other staff on techniques for 2 1/2 years.

I earned my certification from the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work in 2015. I have completed refresher courses annually and practice this evidence-based practice frequently with clients over the years. Since 2021, I have taught MSW and BASW level interns to incorporate elements of motivational interviewing as part of their practicum.

Motivational interviewing (MI) helps to build a collaborative conversation that strengthens a person’s own motivation and commitment to change. The overall therapeutic style of MI is guiding you to change goals you are wanting to achieve within your life. It is a normal human experience to be ambivalent about change and shows you are one step closer to your goal. Using Motivational Interviewing therapeutically will help you explore your own reasons for changing in a safe environment.

I have completed two 21 hour training courses on integrating the approach of motivational interviewing in counseling approach. Motivational Interviewing is a counseling approach that is client-centered (you are the expert), counselor directed (I make observations and help increase awareness) focused on resolving inner conflict regarding change. This approach focuses on empowering clients to find their own meaning for, desire to, and capacity for change.

I have been trained to help you through Motivational Interviewing to integrate specific goals for positive change and/or bring acceptance into your life. I offer detailed techniques to encourage you to achieve your stated desired behavior. I use our therapeutic relationship to empathetically confront your concerns, followed by Socratic questioning to help you discover your thought processes. We use your experiences to strategize solutions. The goal is to help you reinforce specific behaviors.

Sometimes we want to make changes, but, there's something holding us back. It's easy to sit on the fence and talk ourselves out of meaningful action. Motivational Interviewing can help us clarify our goals and get unstuck.

This is a counseling approach designed to help individuals find the motivation to make positive behavioral changes.

Motivational interviewing is a powerful tool to help you make decisions, identify goals, and make lasting changes in your life. This technique empowers you to understand and then take steps towards what you want.

I express empathy through reflective listening to what consequences the client has created alone but whose disorder may convince him he has only partially created, and I will describe the discrepancy between clients' goals and the recent behavior, and being I have have many thousands of hours of this behind me, we avoid argument and dissolve the clients resistance to motivate them to begin the work towards dismantling their disorder piece by piece.

We are enthusiastic practitioners of this proven effective approach to change. Motivational Interviewing is a client-centered approach that meets people where they're at to increase their intrinsic motivation to change. Using this approach over the last decade has shown us how to tap into the potential each client has for change.

Drawing on the principles of motivational interviewing, I can help you explore your motivations, build self-efficacy, and develop a personalized plan for change. By focusing on your strengths and goals, we can work together to overcome challenges and achieve lasting results.

Motivational Interviewing is especially useful when clients are interested in change, but are having difficulty moving forward. This is a way of exploring our hesitance and stumbling blocks to make lasting change more likely.

Uncertainty and feeling stuck about your patterns is normal, and often frustrating. Learning and unlocking what motivates you is the key to your success. Seeing the positive side of your moods and behaviors is critical so you can recognize and keep your core values in place as you explore the methods that will help you make the changes you are looking for. Motivational interviewing is part of most sessions, to make sure you are in the driver's seat and get to choose what you want to work on.

I am skilled in Motivational Interviewing (MI) because of my training and experience as a psychologist. This means I know how to help people talk through their feelings and make positive changes in their lives. I use MI techniques regularly to support my clients in overcoming doubts and taking steps toward their goals.

Enrolled in first ever MI academic class at UT School of Social Work in 2007 with Dr. Mary Marden Velasquez providing certification in MI. Additional extensive MI trainings since 2005 include 1-3 day trainings.

Motivational Interviewing is a collaborative, goal-oriented method of communication with particular attention to the language of change. It is designed to strengthen an individual’s motivation for and movement toward a specific goal by eliciting and exploring the person’s own arguments for change. Motivational Interviewing allows for collaborative conversation to strengthen a person’s own motivation for and commitment to change.