Motivational Interviewing - Foundational

Learn how to guide conversations that inspire change in this online course, with guidance from with the developers of MI in an exclusive forum.

About the course

Start date

Starts 01 September 2026

Length

6 weeks | 10 hours in total (12 Months Access)

Who this course is for

Mental Health Professionals & Coaches

Accreditation

10 CE / CME See all accreditation details

Organization Enquiries

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Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a collaborative, evidence-based approach for strengthening a client’s own motivation and commitment to change. Instead of trying to convince clients to change, MI helps them explore their own reasons, build confidence, and move forward with greater clarity and autonomy.

Motivational Interviewing is especially useful when clients are unsure, stuck, reluctant to follow advice, or facing difficult decisions about change. Whether you work in mental health, addiction, healthcare, or social services, Motivational Interviewing offers a flexible, evidence-based way to engage clients and help them move forward.

In this course, you’ll learn how to:

Use an effective alternative to trying to persuade clients to change
Respond when clients feel unsure, stuck, or ambivalent
Use questions and reflections to support change - even in emotionally charged moments
Let go of the pressure to make clients change
Support clients who doubt their ability to succeed

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Motivational Interviewing - Foundational

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Learn from the Founders of Motivational Interviewing

This course is taught by the developers of Motivational Interviewing - William Miller and Stephen Rollnick - alongside internationally respected MI trainer and researcher Theresa Moyers.

William Miller, PhD is Emeritus Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of New Mexico. He co-developed Motivational Interviewing and has authored over 600 publications, including some of the most widely cited texts in behavioral science.
Stephen Rollnick, PhD is Honorary Distinguished Professor at Cardiff University. As co-developer of Motivational Interviewing, he has helped shape its global application across addiction, mental health, healthcare, and sport.
Theresa Moyers, PhD is a leading Motivational Interviewing researcher and trainer, and Professor of Psychology at the University of New Mexico. Her work focuses on how clinicians build MI skill, and she is known for her engaging teaching style and deep clinical insight.

Together, they offer a rare opportunity to learn Motivational Interviewing directly from the people who created and refined it—through step-by-step instruction, filmed demonstrations, and decades of real-world experience.

Bill Miller, Theresa Moyers and Stephen Rollnick teach Motivational Interviewing

What This Course Helps You Do

This course gives you a practical, skills-based framework to apply Motivational Interviewing in your everyday clinical work - especially when clients are unsure, stuck, or ambivalent to change.

You’ll learn how to:

Build a strong working alliance - even with hesitant or disengaged clients
Guide conversations by drawing out the client’s own reasons for change
Respond skillfully when motivation is unclear or uncertain
Recognize and respond to change talk in the moment
Support clients in developing realistic, self-directed plans for change

Your Motivational Interviewing Learning Experience

This six-week online course combines expert instruction, real clinical examples, and interactive practice to help you build genuine confidence in using Motivational Interviewing.

Each week, you’ll engage with:

Focused video lessons that explain key Motivational Interviewing concepts and techniques
Filmed demonstrations showing MI in action across diverse client scenarios
Animations and interactive quizzes to reinforce learning
Downloadable exercises and resources to support your clinical
A moderated discussion forum where you can ask questions, reflect on practice, and interact directly with William Miller, Stephen Rollnick, or Theresa Moyers
A curated library of readings and resources to help you deepen your understanding and apply MI flexibly.

This course is ideal for psychologists, therapists, social workers, counselors, nurses, doctors, peer workers, case managers, and coaches - anyone in a role where supporting motivation, behavior change, or client engagement is central to the work.
If you're new to MI, explore our free expert insight, What is Motivational Interviewing?, for an introduction.

Enrollments

We're happy to help if you can't attend the current intake. Once your purchase is complete, contact our customer service team and we can enrol you in a future intake.

If you need an invoice, please fill out the form here.

Course Overview

Course Modules

Week 1: Introduction of the clinical method

Module one

Welcome to the course

Module two

Ambivalence as human nature

Module three

What is MI

Module four

Persuasion

Module five

A taste of MI

Module six

Mindset

Module seven

The four processes of MI

Module eight

Demonstration: the four processes

Module nine

Week 1 summary

Module ten

CE/CME quiz

Week 2: The engaging process

Module one

Welcome to week two

Module two

Engaging

Module three

Fundamental skills

Module four

Comprehension quiz: open and closed questions

Module five

Empathy

Module six

Listening

Module seven

Demonstration: engaging

Module eight

Summary of week two

Module nine

CE/CME quiz

Week 3: Using OARS and Focusing

Module one

Welcome to week 3

Module two

Affirmations

Module three

Summaries

Module four

Comprehension quiz - OARS

Module five

Neutrality

Module six

The focusing process

Module seven

Demonstration: Focusing

Module eight

Exercise: focusing

Module nine

Summary of week 3

Module ten

CE/CME quiz

Week 4: The evoking process

Module one

Welcome to week 4

Module two

Evoking

Module three

Change talk

Module four

Comprehension quiz - recognizing change and sustain talk

Module five

Evoking change talk

Module six

Thinking one step ahead

Module seven

Comprehension quiz - thinking one step ahead

Module eight

Responding to change

Module nine

Comprehension quiz - thinking one step ahead

Module ten

Demonstration - evoking

Module eleven

Summary of week 4

Module twelve

CE/CME quiz

Week 5: Putting MI into practice

Module one

Welcome to week 5 and course feedback

Module two

Using summaries to collect change talk

Module three

Comprehension quiz - four summaries

Module four

Review of evoking

Module five

Comprehension quiz - evoking change talk

Module six

Evoking change talk exercise

Module seven

Importance and confidence

Module eight

Sustain talk and discord

Module nine

Comprehension quiz - responding to discord

Module ten

Comprehension quiz - summary of week 5

Module eleven

CE/CME quiz

Week 6: The planning process

Module one

Welcome to week 6

Module two

Calling the CATS

Module three

Comprehension quiz - calling the cats

Module four

Planning

Module five

Offering information and advice

Module six

Evoking a change plan

Module seven

Integrating MI into your practice

Module eight

What makes a good therapist

Module nine

Bringing it together

Module ten

Future hopes

Module eleven

Summary of the course

Module thirteen

CE/CME quiz

What People Say About This Course

Sara SchoenhornLicensed Clinical Social Worker - Irvine, California, USA
The content of this course and the way it was presented were of the highest caliber. It has truly been one of the best courses I have taken in my career.

Kathryn RendinaSocial Worker - Las Vegas, NV, USA
Its probably one of the most fun and informative courses I've ever taken. Being taught by the founders of MI, having different activities and modes of learning is what I like.

Andrew LumbPsychologist - Ottawa, ON, Canada
Excellent use of audio and visual effects. Great to see live full session examples. I appreciate the discussion of research evidence to support MI and what you are teaching. I like how the course gives comprehensive quizzes to reinforce learning.

Dana KrafchickPsychiatrist - Littleton, CO, USA
I am learning so much and implementing it throughout every day in my work. I am also listening better in my personal life. It is rekindling joy in being a physician.

Justin MacArthurCounselor - Stratford, PEI, Canada
I love how organized it is and the combination of video clips and comprehension quizzes. Also, It's very concise and full of extremely useful teachings. The format is excellent and learning from the founders of courses is so helpful. It's one of the best courses you can take, and the best for learning MI.

Rhea JosephPsychologist - India
I liked the comprehension quiz in each of the weekly sessions as it allowed me to strengthen the concepts in a better way. Even the session demonstrations along with variety of different cases were really helpful to get the whole picture of its use in the practical field.

Continuing Education & Professional Development (CE/CME/CPD)

Motivational Interviewing - Foundational is designed for mental health professionals, health professionals and coaches worldwide. On completion you'll receive an official certificate of completion, which can be submitted to registration bodies for CPD.

This course is accredited for 10 CE/CME credit hours for US licensed professionals:

Psychologists - 10 CE hours, APA, co-sponsored with Amedco, an APA-approved sponsor
Social workers - 10 general CE credits, ASWB ACE
Physicians - 10 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, ACCME
Nurses - 10 contact hours, ANCC
Counselors, MFTs & addiction professionals - 10 hours, accepted by most US state boards via APA and ASWB ACE credit — see the state-by-state list
Approved CE activity with the New York State boards for Psychology, Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, and Marriage & Family Therapy.

View the full learner notification for this course (PDF) — includes complete accreditation statements, state board acceptance lists, learning objectives and faculty disclosures.

How Your Course Works

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Two course bundle - save $250Full price $800

Motivational Interviewing - FoundationalLearn how to guide conversations that inspire change in this online course, with guidance from with the developers of MI in an exclusive forum.

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Motivational Interviewing for AddictionJoin Dr William Miller & Dr Theresa Moyers and learn how to practically apply Motivational Interviewing with clients that struggle with substance use issues.

This course startsImmediate access

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Motivational Interviewing - Foundational

About the course

Your Motivational Interviewing Learning Experience

Course Overview

Week 1Introduction of the clinical method

Week 2The engaging process

Week 3Using OARS and Focusing

Week 4The evoking process

Week 5Putting MI into practice

Week 6The planning process

Course excerpts

What People Say About This Course

Continuing Education & Professional Development (CE/CME/CPD)

How Your Course Works

Who is MI - Foundational course suitable for?

Do I need any prior experience with Motivational Interviewing?

How is the MI Foundational course structured over the six weeks?

What practical Motivational Interviewing skills will I develop in this foundational course?

Can the Motivational Interviewing - Foundational course be used for organizational or team training?

What certificates are available for this course?

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