Principles of Motivational Interviewing

Doctor talking to patient in office

Wednesday, June 10, 2026
9:00 am – 5:30 pm 
Live Streaming

One day prior to the start of Lifestyle Medicine, on June 10, 2026, we host the program, Mastering the Principles of Motivational Interviewing. Motivational Interviewing has emerged as one of the most critical and effective evidence-based approaches when working with patients to promote behavior change. In this intensive one-day workshop, participants learn and practice state-of-the-art principles and methods for motivational interviewing to improve patient outcomes.

 

Full schedule (live streaming in US Eastern Time):

 

9:00 to 9:30 am Welcome and Overview: The Spirit of Motivational Interviewing - Joji Suzuki, MD

 

9:30 to 10:20 am  Engaging: OARS Skills - Abby Altman, PhD

  • Open-ended questions
  • Affirmations
  • Reflections
  • Summaries

 

10:20 to 10:40 am Small Group Practice

 

10:40 to 10:50 am Exercise Debriefing - All Faculty

 

10:50 to 11:05 am Break

 

11:05 to 11:30 am Focusing - Claudia Rodriguez, MD

  • Agenda setting
  • Ask-tell-ask

 

11:30 to 11:40 am Small Group Practice

 

11:40 to 11:45 am Exercise Debriefing - All Faculty

 

11:45 am to 12:30 pm Break

 

12:30 to 1:35 pm Evoking - Susan Larrabee, LICSW

  • Strengthening internal motivation
  • Change talk and sustain talk

 

1:35 to 1:55 pm Small Group Practice

 

2:00 to 2:10 pm Break

 

2:10 to 2:45 pm Discord - John Rodolico, PhD

  • Rolling with resistance
     

2:45 to 3:05 pm Small Group Practice

 

3:05 to 3:10 pm Exercise Debriefing - All Faculty

 

3:10 to 3:40 pm Planning - Reuben Hendler, MD

  • MI consistent action planning

 

3:40 to 3:50 pm Break

 

3:50 to 5:00 pm Bringing It Together - Susan Larrabee LICSW

  • Practice exercise
  • Exercise debriefing
  • Video demonstration of MI
  • 10-minute debrief

 

5:00 to 5:20 pm Q & A - All Faculty

 

5:20 to 5:30 pm Workshop Wrap-up - All Faculty