Applying Motivational Interviewing

When: April 1 and 2, 2026 9:30am - 4:30pm

Where: 780 American Legion Highway, Roslindale

*Participants must attend both days to receive CE credit and have the course marked as completed in their training record. Participants will receive a certificate of completion via email upon submitting the course evaluation form.*

CE Credits: 12, in-person CEs

Who: Any helping professional interested in learning more about Motivational Interviewing, as well as folks with intermediate and advanced MI skills.

This two-day training introduces trainees to core foundation of MI skills and examines the many systems with which clients interact in order to support a deeper understanding of the client within the context of their experience of historical and current marginalization and community resiliency. Attendees will examine Macro MI specific applications of the Spirit of MI, the Four Tasks, and OARS. Attendees will also assess systemic stressors and strengths and use this knowledge to increase client safety, broker connection to community change agents, and identify policy level change areas.

• 2 sessions, 9:30a-4:30p each day
• Each day will have a lunch break
• Practical and highly interactive training
• Real life scenarios
• In-person at: 780 American Legion Highway, Roslindale

1. Recall the tenets of The Spirit of Motivational Interviewing and why each is a necessary piece of the foundation of MI
2. Demonstrate the core skills of Motivational Interviewing (OARS) and apply them to practice sessions.
3. Define Macro Motivational Interviewing as a systems intervention that pays attention to larger social structures that shape the lives of individuals seeking services.
4. Integrate Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems model into OARS using specific verbalizations of systemic barriers to change
5. Distinguish between change talk, sustain talk and client verbalizations of harm
6. Describe DARN CATS and how this mnemonic tool helps assess for and strengthen change talk

*This course is designed to be very interactive in nature and relies on attendees participating and arriving on time for each session. Please note admission into the training will close at 9:45 am each day.

**The participant handbook will be provided to you upon arrival.

Elizabeth Woodruff, LICSW

In her work in child welfare in Boston, MA, Elizabeth has poured her energy into creating programs and practices that embrace transformative responses to harm, keep families together, and minimize the length of out-of-home treatment. Since she began with The Home in 2011, Elizabeth has worked as a direct care supervisor, milieu manager, clinician, and Assistant Program Director overseeing a 20-bed intensive group home for youth and families living with the impact of complex trauma. Elizabeth has experience in family therapy, crisis intervention/prevention, and care coordination for youth and their families in group home, outpatient, and community-based settings. Elizabeth currently works as a trainer of clinical interventions and anti-oppressive practices; and as a clinical supervisor and community-based family therapist.

Jess Sneed

Jess Sneed (they/them) is a Motivational Interviewing trainer, facilitator, and instructional designer with experience developing and delivering behavior change training and curricula for behavioral and mental health startups.

Jess graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Gender and Sexuality Studies. They also hold a degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Alabama. Jess is a passionate helper who takes a whole person, trauma-informed approach to helping folks make changes in their lives.

They became a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers in 2022. Jess has been leading work in Macro Motivational Interviewing since 2023 and is excited to co-create this new frontier for Motivational Interviewing.

In their spare time, Jess is an avid gardener and wannabe chef. Please talk to them about all things food-related; it will bring them so much joy!

The Home for Little Wanderers has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6861. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. The Home for Little Wanderers is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

The Home for Little Wanderers, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0687.

The Home for Little Wanderers #2466 is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 12/9/2025 - 12/9/2026. Social workers completing this course receive 12 general continuing education credits.

For questions about this training, special arrangements, or accommodations, please contact dHJhaW5pbmcgfCB0aGVob21lICEgb3Jn ahead of time for assistance.

Info: 9:30 – 11:00am: The Spirit of MI; large group discussion


11:00 - 11:15: Morning Break


11:15 – 12:45: Introducing OARS (pair practice) and the 4 tasks of MI


12:45 - 1:15: Lunch


1:15 - 2:30: Macro MI and Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Model


2:30 - 2:45: Break


2:45 - 4:30: the Spirit of Macro MI; small group activity

Info: 9:30 – 11:00am: OARS - skills practice in pairs


11:00 - 11:15: Morning Break


11:15 – 12:45p: Identifying change talk, large group discussion


12:45 - 1:15 lunch


1:15 - 2:30: Cultivating change talk, small group work


2:30 - 2:45: Break


2:45 - 4:30: Ask Offer Ask and Planning, skills practice in pairs

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