Syllabus

Master of Social Work

SSW 652 – Motivational Interviewing

Credits - 3

Description

Motivational interviewing is a way of collaborating with clients empathically and in a person-centered way that helps clients to find their own motivations for change. In this course students will learn the fundamentals of motivational interviewing and will have the opportunity to practice intensively within the context of the social work profession. Students will learn core principles of motivational interviewing including expressing empathy and avoiding arguing, developing discrepancy, rolling with resistance, and supporting self-efficacy. We will explore enhancing strategies for promoting individual change in primary healthcare settings and the use of motivational interviewing in achieving better healthcare outcomes.

Materials

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

School of Social Work Program Outcomes:

Graduates of the UNE SSWO will demonstrate knowledge, skills, and leadership in the following:

1. Practice social inclusion to enable people, populations, and communities to fully participate in society, enhance human bonds in the context of cultural diversity and ensure improved quality of life and equitable resource distribution. EPAS Competencies 2 & 3
2. Engage in culturally-informed relationship building, being respectful of the complexity and diversity of contexts and circumstances. EPAS Competencies 3 & 6
3. Utilize theories of human behavior, social systems and social inclusion when offering interventions with people and their environments. EPAS Competency 8
4. Promote ethical reflection, critical consciousness and shared decision-making based in social work values and with consideration of the broader contexts of the world in which we live. EPAS Competency 1
5. Balance the roles of helpers, activists, and advocates through collaboration with communities to build healthy and sustainable resources. EPAS Competencies 2, 5, & 6
6. Engage as critical consumers and producers of research as it relates to assessment, intervention and evaluation of clinical and community practices. EPAS Competencies 4, 7, 8 & 9
7. Practice person-centered and collaborative community partnerships across diverse settings. EPAS Competency 6

Course Objectives

Through the completion of their assignments, students will demonstrate their ability to:

1. Apply core principles and concepts of motivational interviewing as a therapeutic stance in working with clients. PROGRAM OUTCOME #3 (As measured by Evaluating Motivational Interviewing Paper, Motivational Interviewing Self Evaluation Paper, Self-Coded Motivational Interviewing Paper, and Discussion)
2. Engage clients in conversations about change and to assess where clients are in the change process. PROGRAM OUTCOME #3 and #4 (As measured by Evaluating Motivational Interviewing Paper, through peer critique of Self-Coded Paper, and Discussions)
3. Use active listening skills of open-ended questions, affirming, reflection, and summarizing with clients. PROGRAM OUTCOME #2 (As measured by peer critique of Self-Coded Paper and Discussions)
4. Show evidence of collaborating with clients in developing a focus and goal-directed activities. PROGRAM OUTCOME #3 (As measured by Self-Coded Motivational Interviewing Paper, Evaluating Motivational Interviewing Paper, Discussion and Discussion Facilitation)
5. Demonstrate evidence of the ability to acknowledge and explore ambivalence through developing and sustaining talk that is change oriented and that highlights discrepancy in behavior that supports change. PROGRAM OUTCOMES #2 and #3 (As measured by Motivational Interviewing Self Evaluation Paper, Evaluating Motivational Interviewing Paper, and Discussions)
6. Collaborate with clients to develop a goal-directed plan for change in behavior and to show the ability to strengthen commitment for that plan. PROGRAM OUTCOMES # 2 and #3 (As measured by Self-Coded Motivational Interviewing Paper and Evaluating Motivational Interviewing Paper)
7. Show evidence of competent use of motivational interviewing skills in social work practice. PROGRAM OUTCOME #3 (As measured by Self-Coded Motivational Interviewing Paper and Evaluating Motivational Interviewing Paper)
8. Evaluate motivational interviewing skills in practice. PROGRAM OUTCOME #3 (As measured by Self-Coded Motivational Interviewing Paper, Evaluating Motivational Interviewing Paper, and Discussions)

Assignments

A variety of learning activities are designed to support the course objectives, facilitate different learning styles, and build a community of learners. Learning activities for each module include PowerPoints, videos, sample interviews, handouts, self-reflection, and discussion. 

Assignment #1: Motivational Interviewing Self Reflection Paper (20% of grade)

The purpose of this paper is to reflect on ways in which you have effected change in your life. Working with clients using a motivational interviewing approach to a large degree involves helping clients to find a motivation for change that works for them while taking into account the natural ambivalence that is felt when considering change. Use the following prompts to explore how you go about making change in your own life. You may use material from your responses to the discussion questions in Module 1. Suggested paper length: 4-7 pages. Due in Week 2.

Assignment #2 – Evaluating Motivational Interviewing Conversations Paper (20% of grade)

Your goal for this paper is to show that you are comfortable assessing MI skills and approaches as they are applied in a session (provided to you), and to learn to be able to identify and evaluate MI-focused interactions in conversation. You will be using this verbatim transcript of an actual session with a client that you will be required to assess using OARS. You will use the right-hand column in the paper to identify the MI approaches that are being used. Due in Week 5.

Assignment #3: Self-Coded Motivational Interview Paper (30% of grade)

The purpose of this assignment is to apply a motivational interviewing approach and strategies to a session with a client from your field placement or your place of employment. You will write a three-part paper that includes the following:

1. A one-page narrative that contains: the client’s demographic information; a description of the identified ‘problem’; at what stage of change is the client (pre-contemplation, contemplation, action, maintenance).
2. A verbatim transcript of a portion (approximately 5 pages single spaced) of the session. You will code your interview using the same format as that is used in Paper #2 (e.g., paraphrasing, summarizing, simple reflection, complex reflection, rolling with resistance, amplification of change talk, pointing out discrepancies).
3. A summary of the session and a self-assessment using OARS (2 pages). This section will contain a narrative of your session and your reactions to using MI and its efficacy in this particular session. What challenges did you face and how did you feel about your use of MI in the session?

This paper is due in Week 7.

Grading Policy

The School of Social Work uses the following grading system for all courses with the exception of field education courses. Students are expected to maintain a “B” (3.0) average over the course of their study. Students with less than a GPA of 3.0 will be placed on academic probation. Students must have an overall GPA of 3.0 in order to receive their Master’s Degree.

Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:

Grade Breakdown

Assignment	Point Value	Percentage of Grade
Motivational interviewing self-reflection paper	200	20
Evaluating Motivational Interviewing paper	200	20
Self-Coded MI paper	300	30
Discussion (Participation)	300 (37.5/week)	30
Total:	1000 points	100%

Grade Scale

Grade	Points Grade	Point Average (GPA)
A	94 – 100%	4.00
A-	90 – 93%	3.75
B+	87 – 89%	3.50
B	84 – 86%	3.00
B-	80 – 83%	2.75
C+	77 – 79%	2.50
C	74 – 76%	2.00
C-	70 – 73%	1.75
D	64 – 69%	1.00
F	00 – 63%	0.00