Instructor-Led Motivational Interviewing (MI) Workshop: An Overview of MI Theory, Practice Skills and Core Strategies

Held February 28, 2025 In-Person at the GCSW

9 am - 4 pm CST (7 CEUs)

By the end of this workshop, fully engaged participants will be able to 1) learn the core philosophy, processes, spirit, and approach of MI, 2) learn how MI can empower clients to change, 3) understand evidence-based engagement strategies of MI, including how to approach client’s ambivalence to change, and 4) be familiar with some core strategies, practice skills, and techniques for using Motivational Interviewing (MI).

Dr. Robin E. Gearing is a Professor of Social Work and the Director of the Center for Mental Health Research and Innovation in Treatment Engagement and Service (MH-RITES). He also has extensive experience practicing as a clinical social worker in psychosocial and mental health treatment service for more than twenty-five years. Dr. Gearing’s research focuses on improving the mental health outcomes of youth and adults with serious mental illnesses and their families. His research is driven by an interest in informing and improving engagement to empirically supported psychosocial and medication treatment and developing evidence-based interventions. As a researcher, his areas of expertise are schizophrenia spectrum disorders, depressive disorders, and suicide intervention. Dr. Gearing’s work focuses on engagement with mental health services, including culturally informed adaptations of empirically supported interventions. Dr. Gearing also holds a clinical faculty appointment at the University of Texas Health McGovern Medical School Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and he serves as a board member on the Board of Trustees for The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD. In addition to other forums, findings from Dr. Gearing’s research has appeared in over 100 publications.