University at Buffalo

How Can We Help?

Our approach to MI consultation and training

Our training activities emphasize focused practice accompanied by feedback and coaching, tailored to the needs of learners.  For organizations implementing MI, we assist with planning, execution, evaluation, and adjustment.  

Through long-term relationships with learners and organizations, we support practice transformation to help helpers better meet the needs of their clients.

Key features of our approach

  • Model and teach the MI “way of being”
    • Working collaboratively, with humility
    • Empowering individuals by calling forth their motivations, strengths, and ideas
    • Accepting, affirming, and supporting autonomy
    • Being guided by compassion
  • Model and teach the MI “way of doing” – specific methods for engaging with individuals and guiding them through the process of change
  • Promote the use of MI as a foundation of practice
    • in all helping encounters
    • in all aspects of a helping organization
White trillium, Boston, New York. Photographer: Kurt Dermen

Some specific services offered to learners and organizations

  • Practice evaluation and feedback, live or using recorded samples of:
    • Real-play
    • Role-play
    • Simulated client interaction
    • Client interaction in practice setting
  • Support for learning communities and coaching groups
    • Direct facilitation of ongoing groups
    • Training and ongoing support for MI coaches
    • “Coaching school” workshops
  • Consultation, guidance, and coaching for organization-level implementation
    • Plan for integration of new practices into existing or new clinical services
    • Guide implementation and cultural transformation
    • Train, monitor, and coach to support skill development
    • Support in-house development of MI champions and coaches
    • Support evaluation of impact on staff and clients
  • Support for a community of MI educators and coaches
    • Offer professional development workshops and coaching for supervisors/preceptors
    • Collaborate with practitioner educators to integrate and demonstrate MI in clinical encounters
    • Provide foundational and advanced training and coaching to practice leaders at community and university clinical sites, to prepare them for supporting other learners
    • Serve as a source of up-to-date guidance on best practices in learning and applying MI
    • Provide a forum for sharing ideas, experiences, and questions
    • Provide training and coaching in use of validated MI skill assessment tools
    • Support collaborative efforts to broaden access to MI learning resources
Pearl crescent butterfly on black-eyed Susan flower, Mount Jewett, Pennsylvania. Photographer: Kurt Dermen