- Live Webinar
Motivational Interviewing Skills: Motivate Client Without Forcing Conversations That Inspire Change and Growth
Dr. Kristin L. Dempsey, LMFT, LPCC
- Live Webinar
Current Status
Price
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Tuesday, June 23, 2026
12:00 PM ET – 3:15 PM ET
Overview:
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a collaborative, person-centered counseling approach designed to strengthen motivation and commitment to change. This workshop provides a concise yet comprehensive overview of MI’s four essential components: the spirit of MI, core micro-skills (OARS), the MI process, and the concept of change talk. Participants will learn how these components work together to foster engagement, resolve ambivalence, and support behavioral change in individuals, families, and communities.
Through real-world examples and discussion, participants will gain practical strategies for applying MI across diverse behavioral health settings, including with clients who are mandated to treatment. The training will also address common pitfalls or “traps” that can derail MI effectiveness and how to avoid them. By the end of the session, participants will be equipped to integrate MI principles and techniques into their own clinical practice to promote client autonomy, readiness, and sustainable growth.
Objectives:
- Apply the four components of the spirit of Motivational Interviewing to enhance client engagement and collaboration.
- Define ambivalence and illustrate how it manifests in children, youth, and caregivers seeking behavioral health services.
- Differentiate between preparatory and mobilizing change talk and utilize these distinctions to guide client progress toward change goals.
- Implement core MI micro-skills (OARS) within the four processes of MI to promote conversations that enhance motivation for change.
Scope and Limitations Disclosure
This course provides an educational overview of Motivational Interviewing (MI), including its core principles, processes, and communication strategies, to support ethical and effective clinical practice. The material is intended to enhance professional knowledge and skill development and does not constitute certification in Motivational Interviewing, supervision in MI proficiency, or a substitute for formal MI training or consultation. Participants are encouraged to apply course concepts within their professional scope of practice and in accordance with applicable ethical codes, organizational policies, and licensure requirements.
Commercial Support Disclosure
Kristin Dempsey, EdD, LPCC, LMFT, MINT Certified Trainer, receives compensation for the preparation and presentation of this continuing education program. This activity is not supported by commercial entities, and no products, services, or additional trainings are promoted or required as part of this course. The presenter has no relevant financial relationships that could influence the content of this program.
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Dr. Kristin L. Dempsey, LMFT, LPCC
Dr. Kristin Dempsey, EdD, LPCC, LMFT, is an esteemed figure in the field of psychotherapy, counseling education, and motivational interviewing. With nearly three decades of dedicated experience, she has significantly impacted community mental health settings and K-12 schools, offering vital mental health and substance use education and treatment services. Presently, Kristin continues her transformative work by providing support to individuals and families in her San Francisco and Burlingame offices, as well as through telehealth. Her expertise extends to various complex conditions, including co-occurring mental health and substance use issues, trauma, and eating disorders. As a MINT Certified Trainer, Kristin is committed to training a diverse range of mental health and helping professionals in motivational interviewing, trauma-informed care, crisis interventions, and various cognitive-behavioral and behavioral therapy approaches. Her teaching philosophy is grounded in a strengths-based perspective that explores values and meaning-building for clients, supervisees, and clinicians alike. Additionally, she contributes to the academic community as an associate professor at the Wright Institute’s Counseling Psychology Program and as a dedicated lecturer at San Francisco State University. Kristin's recent book, "Harm Recovery Workbook for Addiction" (New Harbinger, 2024), is a testament to her dedication to advancing the field of mental health and addiction treatment, making her an inspirational figure in the realm of mental health and therapy.
National Approvals
eCare BHI, as the accredited and approved sponsor, maintains responsibility for all the programs and must abide by each board’s continuing education guidelines.
Professional Counselors — The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)
E Care Behavioral Health Institute has been approved by NBCC as an approved Continuing Education Provider. ACEP No. 6703. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC are clearly identified. E care Behavioral Health Institute is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
Addiction Professionals — NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC)
E Care Behavioral Health Institute is officially on file with NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC) as an Approved Education Provider. They are formally known as NAADAC Provider #139138. Please note that E care Behavioral Health Institute is solely responsible for all aspects of the program.
Social Workers — Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
E Care Behavioral Health Institute, #1706, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. E Care Behavioral Health Institute maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 06-03-2020 – 06-03-2026.
CE Broker
CE Broker is a continuing education tracking system in which licensees track their compliance and report their completed CE hours credit (CE Broker Tracking #50-33336)
State Approvals
States that Accept ASWB-ACE Approved Providers | ||||||
| Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Connecticut |
| Delaware | District Of Columbia | Florida | Georgia | Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois |
| Indiana | Iowa | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maine | Maryland |
| Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota | Mississippi | Missouri | Montana | Nebraska |
| Nevada | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico | North Carolina | North Dakota | Ohio |
| Oklahoma | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina | South Dakota | Tennessee |
| Texas | Utah | Vermont | Virginia | Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin |
| Wyoming | ||||||
States that Accepts NBCC Approved Courses: | ||||||
| Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Connecticut |
| Delaware | District Of Columbia | Florida | Georgia | Hawaii | Idaho | Indiana |
| Iowa | Maine | Maryland | Massachusetts | Missouri | New Hampshire | New Jersey |
| New Mexico | Ohio | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina | South Dakota |
| Tennessee | Texas | Vermont | Virginia | Washington | Wisconsin | |
Notes:
- Nevada CPC’s and MFT’s accept ASWB-approved training
- North Dakota Board Of Counselor Examiners LAPC and LAPCS accept ASWB approved training
- Rhode Island Board of Mental Health Counselors and Marriage & Family Therapists MHC’s accept ASWB approved training
- Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council LPC and LPCS accept ASWB approved training
- Utah Division of Professional Licensing – CMHC’s accept ASWB approved training
- Washington State Department of Mental Health MHC’s accept ASWB approved training
- Wisconsin Council on Mental Health LPCS accepts ASWB-approved training
States that Accept NAADAC Approved Providers | ||||||
| Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | Delaware | Hawaii | Indiana |
| Kentucky | Maine | Massachusetts | Minnesota | Montana | Nevada | New Jersey |
| New Jersey | New Mexico | North Carolina | North Dakota | Oregon | Rhode Island | Tennessee |
| Vermont | Virginia | Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wisconsin | Wyoming |
States that Accept APA Approved Providers | ||||||
| Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Delaware | District Of Columbia |
| Florida | Georgia | Idaho | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Kansas |
| Kentucky | Louisiana | Maryland | Massachusetts | Minnesota | Mississippi | Missouri |
| Montana | Nebraska | New Jersey | New Mexico | North Dakota | Ohio | Oklahoma |
| Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina | Tennessee | Utah | Vermont | Virginia |
| Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wyoming | |||
Note: Please note that Individual Board Rules are subject to potential changes. The approval and acceptance details we furnish are accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of documentation.
Should you have any inquiries or uncertainties not addressed by the provided information, it’s advisable to consult your State Regulatory Board. Ultimately, the decision of whether your license renewal credit hours are accepted or denied rests with you.
Georgia Addiction Counselor: E Care BHI is recognized by the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Certification Board of Georgia as an approved education provider for Addiction Counselors (ADACBGA) #19-12-17-1212.
Florida Addiction Counselor: E Care BHI is recognized by the Florida Certification Board as an approved education provider for Addiction Counselor (FCB) #5387-A.
Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy & Mental Health Counseling: The Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy & Mental Health Counseling accepts courses from ASWB & NBCC approved providers. E Care Behavioral Health Institute is an ASWB and NBCC approved provider.
Oklahoma Addiction Counselor: E Care BHI is recognized by the Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors as an approved education provider for Addiction Counselors (OBLADC) #20220136.
Oklahoma Board of Behavioral Health Licensure: E Care BHI is an approved CE provider for LPC & LMFT
Ohio Addiction Counselor: E Care BHI is recognized by the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board as an approved education provider for Addiction Counselor (OCDP)#50-29024
The Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board accepts courses from ASWB & NBCC approved providers. E Care Behavioral Health Institute is an ASWB and NBCC approved provider.
VA Mental Health Employee: E Care BHI VA COMMERCIAL VENDOR # 81-3353387-01
California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP): E Care BHI is recognized by the California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP) Provider Number OS-22-344-0526
Connecticut Certification Board CCB Approved): E Care BHI is recognized & approved by the Connecticut Certification Board.
Texas Certification Board (TCB): E Care Behavioral Health Institute is recognized by the Texas Certification Board as an approved education provider. Number 2041-19
South Carolina E Care Behavioral Health Institute is recognized by the Professional Counselors, Marriage & Family Therapists, and Psycho-Educational Specialists licensing board as an approved education provider Provider #4628
New York (MHC) E Care Behavioral Health is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors #MHC-0277
New York (SW) E Care Behavioral Health Institute is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0745
Who This Training is For:
This program is intended for mental health professionals such as Social Workers, Mental Health Counselors, Addiction Counselors, & MFT’s. Psychologists are encouraged to verify if this specific course meets their board’s approval requirements.
CE Guarantee
If you miss the live event or are dissatisfied with the session, we are happy to offer a course credit transfer to another course of equal CE value
Replay Access
After the live session, we'll send you the recording for your own resource that you can review later at your own pace
Interactive Experience
Enjoy your learning experience with engaging activities such as group discussion, vignettes, roleplaying, video demos, etc.
If you're from Florida, Ohio, or South Carolina, we'll report your CEs to the CE broker
How It Works
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Frequently Asked Questions
Once you register for this training, the course will immediately appear in your account dashboard. Inside, you’ll see a countdown timer. And once the scheduled time arrives, the live session will begin from there!
Of course! If you sign up but miss the live session… The recording will be added to your account Dashboard within 48 hours after the live session with an email notification of instructions. You will also receive home-study CE credits for watching the recording.
Yes, we have limited seating on our live webinars to keep the sessions as interactive & engaged as possible. So be sure to claim your spot before it’s too late!
No. Live webinar attendees are not required to take or pass a quiz to receive a CE certificate. (But yes for recorded webinars). You are required to pass a quiz with an 80% passing grade with 3 attempts only for recorded webinars.
Yes, we are approved Continuing Education providers by ASWB, NBCC, NAADAC, APA, & many state boards.
Programs that do not qualify for ASWB, NBCC, NAADAC, & APA are clearly identified. eCare Behavioral Health Institute is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
To view all of our board approvals, click here
Live Webinar CE Courses:
- Refunds are only eligible if the refund was requested 48 hours before the scheduled live event.
- If the customer missed the live event, or was unsatisfied from it – We can transfer credits to another course of their choice (with same CE credit amount).
Unlimited CEs for $297/year
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