University of Southern Maine

Using Motivational Interviewing With Challenging Young People

Most service providers who are working with challenging young people are struggling with a variety of difficult issues: resistance, lack of motivation, no clear means of prevention and/or promoting change. In this program, we will focus on ways to elicit young people's empowerment by empathizing and supporting their own dreams, thoughts, feelings, concerns, and hopes.

With an emphasis on personal choice in regard to self-efficacy for health, adult youth workers will learn to enhance their clients' intrinsic motivation to change by discussing and resolving issues with the young person and/or family members. We will explore how to:

• identify the young person's and/or family's current state of readiness to change
• build rapport and create authentic engagement with diverse groups (young people, families, providers, and others)
• use direct communication to create an effective environment
• negotiate action plans
• provide advice and information collaboratively
• develop the ability to understand other evidence-based prevention/treatment approaches

The spirit of this training will be collaborative, honoring personal autonomy, respect, and compassion, as we discuss evidence-based and practice-based care methods for prevention and treatment of:

• mental and behavioral health issues
• school difficulties
• juvenile justice
• substance use, misuse and abuse

Registration has ended. Please browse courses for future offerings of this course.

$265 (12 contact hours/ 1.2 CEUs)