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

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
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.

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
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.
Upcoming intake dates:
September 1
October 27
December 22
If you need an invoice, please fill out the form here.


Welcome to the course

Ambivalence as human nature

What is MI

Persuasion

A taste of MI

Mindset

The four processes of MI

Demonstration: the four processes

Week 1 summary

CE/CME quiz

Welcome to week two

Engaging

Fundamental skills

Comprehension quiz: open and closed questions

Empathy

Listening

Demonstration: engaging

Summary of week two

CE/CME quiz

Welcome to week 3

Affirmations

Summaries

Comprehension quiz - OARS

Neutrality

The focusing process

Demonstration: Focusing

Exercise: focusing

Summary of week 3

CE/CME quiz

Welcome to week 4

Evoking

Change talk

Comprehension quiz - recognizing change and sustain talk

Evoking change talk

Thinking one step ahead

Comprehension quiz - thinking one step ahead

Responding to change

Comprehension quiz - thinking one step ahead

Demonstration - evoking

Summary of week 4

CE/CME quiz

Welcome to week 5 and course feedback

Using summaries to collect change talk

Comprehension quiz - four summaries

Review of evoking

Comprehension quiz - evoking change talk

Evoking change talk exercise

Importance and confidence

Sustain talk and discord

Comprehension quiz - responding to discord

Comprehension quiz - summary of week 5

CE/CME quiz

Welcome to week 6

Calling the CATS

Comprehension quiz - calling the cats

Planning

Offering information and advice

Evoking a change plan

Integrating MI into your practice

What makes a good therapist

Bringing it together

Future hopes

Summary of the course

CE/CME quiz
This Motivational Interviewing - Foundational training is designed for mental health professionals and coaches worldwide. Upon completion, you'll receive an official certificate that may be submitted to relevant registration or licensing bodies for continuing professional development, where applicable.
10 CE/CME credits are designated for a range of licensed mental health professions, including:
psychologists, social workers, counsellors,
physicians, nurses,
marriage and family therapists,
addiction professionals.
Acceptance for other professions may vary by board and jurisdiction. View the complete CE/CME accreditation details and board approvals here.
