Applying Motivational Interviewing Techniques and Interventions in Palliative Care

Motivational interviewing is a collaborative person-centered, goal-oriented method of communication with particular attention given to assessing and strengthening an individual’s motivation to take action. This powerful tool can improve patient engagement, resolve patient ambivalence, and promote patient activation in setting and achieving goals, ultimately improving their outcomes.

People will achieve the goals they are motivated to achieve. Motivational interviewing helps clinicians discover an individual’s ambivalence and resistance to palliative care by eliciting from clients their reasons for ambivalence and resistance and supporting readiness to change. In palliative care motivational interviewing is focused on helping patients identify behaviors and actions that support their ability to achieve the goals they establish for themselves.

This course explores the spirit of motivational interviewing, teaching palliative care professionals ways to integrate motivational interviewing into their work with patients.

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What You’ll Learn

• Summarize the theoretical framework that guides the use of motivational interviewing as one approach to creating person-centered plans.
• Discuss limitations of motivational interviewing.
• Identify research outcomes that support motivational interviewing best practices.
• Define what is meant by the “spirit” of motivational interviewing.
• Contrast the motivational interviewing concept of “change” with the healthcare “goal setting” focus.
• Discuss the use of decisional balance for fine tuning plans.
• Demonstrate the application of specific techniques and interventions in case-based situations that lead to assessing motivation

What You’ll Earn

6 continuing education (CE) credits approved by the following accreditation bodies:

• CEs are provided through California State University San Marcos, accredited by the Western Association of  Schools and Colleges (WASC).

Course Authors

Gary Gardia, MEd, MSW, LCSW, has more than 30 years of experience as a hospice and palliative care social work leader and consultant. He served in leadership positions with National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) including as the national section leader for Social Work and was instrumental in the creation of their Manager Development Program. Gary has written and published extensively and is a frequent presenter and keynote speaker at state and national conferences. Gary has also worked as a psychotherapist in private practice with a specialty in grief and loss, personal growth and development and substance abuse.

Elizabeth (Liz) Barnett, MSW, PhD, has over ten years of experience helping professionals apply motivational interviewing (MI) in their work settings. She is an active member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) since 2005 and the co-founder of Motivational Interviewing for Change. She has trained social workers, nurse case managers, probation officers, group home staff, service coordinators and school counselors. She has also published peer reviewed journal articles and book chapters on the use of MI, and developed MI demonstration videos in a variety of settings. She is passionate about the quality of services being delivered to those in-need and feels strongly that quality services begin with excellent communication skills.

Completion and Refunds

In order to complete this course and obtain a certificate, you must view the course in its entirety, correctly answer all case studies and quiz/test questions (as appropriate) and complete the evaluation. You will have 90 days to access this course from the date of purchase. No refunds are given for self-paced courses.