Motivational Interviewing for Addiction
Support meaningful change in addiction - learn directly from the co-founder of Motivational Interviewing.
About the course
Start date
Immediate accessTime
10hrs | Self-directed (6 months access)Who this course is for
Mental Health Professionals, Health Professionals Accreditation
10.5 CE / CME CreditsMotivational Interviewing (MI) offers a powerful, client-centered approach to working with the ambivalence that so often defines addiction. Rather than pushing for change or trying to talk clients out of their ambivalence, MI helps them explore their own values, build hope, and move toward recovery in a way that feels meaningful and self-directed.
Help Clients Move Toward Recovery
Whether clients are discouraged, unsure, or returning to use, Motivational Interviewing offers a respectful, collaborative framework for guiding conversations about change. Grounded in decades of research, it’s especially effective in addiction work - where motivation is often complex and change unfolds over time.
In this advanced-level course, you’ll learn how to:
Support clients through the stages of change - from pre-contemplation to maintenance
Engage clients who feel stuck, ambivalent, or unsure about recovery
Respond to change talk and sustain talk in the context of substance use
Help clients find their own reasons and readiness for change
Integrate MI with other evidence-based approaches to addiction treatment
$350
Motivational Interviewing for Addiction
Learn From the Experts in MI and Addiction Treatment
This course is taught by William Miller, co-developer of Motivational Interviewing, and Theresa Moyers, internationally respected MI trainer and researcher - alongside a team of expert addiction specialists.
William Miller is Emeritus Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of New Mexico. He co-developed Motivational Interviewing and is a pioneer in the treatment of substance use. He has authored more than 600 publications and is one of the most cited researchers in psychology.
Theresa Moyers is Professor of Psychology at the University of New Mexico. Her work focuses on clinician skill-building and fidelity in MI practice, with a particular emphasis on addiction treatment. Known for her engaging teaching and deep clinical insight, she is one of the world’s most experienced MI trainers.
Together, they bring decades of research, teaching, and clinical experience to this course - through in-depth instruction, filmed demonstrations, and practical strategies for real-world addiction work.
What This Course Helps You Do
This course gives you a practical, skills-based framework for using Motivational Interviewing in the treatment of substance use disorders, including both alcohol and other drug use.
You’ll learn how to:
Work more effectively with ambivalence in addiction contexts
Recognize and respond to change talk and sustain talk
Guide recovery conversations without confrontation or persuasion
Support clients through setbacks, relapses, and uncertain motivation
Apply MI across the stages of change
Approach addiction treatment as an ongoing process - not a one-time event
Your Learning Experience
This 10-hour, self-paced course combines expert instruction, filmed demonstrations, and interactive learning to help you build real confidence in using Motivational Interviewing with clients affected by substance use.
Your course includes:
Video lessons that break down key MI concepts and techniques
Demonstrations of MI with clients at different stages of change
Animations and interactive quizzes to reinforce learning
Downloadable exercises and tools to support your clinical work
A curated library of readings and resources to deepen your understanding
This course is ideal for psychologists, therapists, social workers, counselors, addiction specialists, peer workers, nurses, doctors, and others working professionally with clients affected by substance use disorders.
What You'll Learn
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