Applied Motivational Interviewing

Our accredited training course

Alasdair Cant & Associates is committed to innovation in learning, to equip those working in public service to thrive at work. We are excited that our Applied Motivational Interviewing course is part of that vision.

With 10 in-depth video lessons, assignments, 1:1 Tutor feedback, and community features, this course provides 25 hours of CPD accreditation.

Our bespoke platform is accessible any time on any device to suit your schedule, with up to 10 weeks of access to the course Tutor.

Applied Motivational Interviewing is a welcome addition to the ACA offering, alongside our face-to-face and online MI training.

Get in Touch to Learn More

What you get

  • 10 on-demand lessons

    Led by Alasdair Cant with interviews and examples from leaders and practitioners from local authorities

  • Downloadable resources

    Practical assignments to reinforce learning. Get all the information you need to submit your assignments - written, audio or video

  • Flexible learning

    Access material at any time to suit you on any device, anywhere

  • CPD Accreditation

    You will recieve accreditation from CPDSO (25 hours), an internationally recognised body for Professional Development

  • Written feedback

    Individual feedback on your assignments from Alasdair Cant and the team, allowing you to reflect and develop your learning

  • Online Classroom

    Each cohort is part of a small, interactive online classroom to engage with your peers and form professional communities

Learn from real-life examples

Hear from practitioners using MI around the country

Use our bespoke learning platform

  • In this lesson, we look at the spirit of Motivational Interviewing which is centred on Compassion, Acceptance, Partnership, and Empowerment (CAPE). This helps by using a strengths-based approach that focuses on what is strong, not what is wrong, and practising empathy, positive regard through kindness, congruence in being authentically ourselves, and curiosity rather than taking a fixed position too soon.

  • Picking up on the previous lesson, Cycle of Change - Part Two looks into how action involves taking small steps toward real change, maintenance reflects the process of encouraging sustained progress, lapse represents a learning opportunity in the journey, and relapse involves returning to near-original behaviour.

  • In this lesson, we focus on engaging with those in a heightened emotional state. We must avoid falling into competing monologues, remain engaged by acknowledging strong emotions, use active listening to reframe hidden positives, and stay in the emotional "dance."

  • A direct challenge can lead to conflict, so using supportive challenge connects with the person before the challenge. We frame these challenges as an expression of puzzlement that invites their help and uses overstatement to help them better locate their situation without feeling judged.

  • The Drama Triangle is a tool to make sense of difficult interactions, where the victim expresses helplessness and seeks a rescuer, the rescuer has a strong "fix-it" reflex, and the persecutor attacks to make others back down, but progress is made when we empower others to find their own solutions, and the challenger uses energy constructively for better outcomes.

  • In this lesson, you get the chance to watch and analyse a full-length motivational interview which will give you a chance to label the skills we've learned after the last few weeks.

  • In this, the final lesson of the course, we recap all the material covered in the previous nine lessons. You will also have the opportunity to reflect on the progress you've made and the changes you hope to see in your life and work going forward.

Course Structure

  • In the first lesson on The Cycle of Change, we help you align with where someone is in their behaviour and adjust our response accordingly, from pre-contemplation, where we let go and listen, to contemplation, where we work with curiosity, and the decision phase, where questions help give the client ownership of their plan

  • Using examples of Motivational Interviews, we learn about the four key tasks in MI:

    • Engaging

    • Focusing

    • Evoking

    • Planning

    These involve engagement through good rapport, focusing on the central topic of the conversation, evoking motivation through listening, and planning collaboratively with the person rather than for them.

  • Ambivalence is a natural part of change. This lesson helps us to acknowledge sustain talk about the status quo without indulging it, while drawing out and emphasising change talk using OARS:

    • Open questions

    • Affirmations

    • Reflections

    • Summaries.

Recent Feedback

  • "Thank you. It is such a treat to have the chance to drill down into my practice and techniques."

  • "I’m loving the chance to think about having purposeful conversations and to develop techniques to do so."

  • "I’m enjoying the challenge of rethinking, reshaping and reminding myself about good motivational practice."

  • "It is well put together and easy to use."

  • "It’s so nice to be able to do this in my own time - this suits my learning style and lifestyle much better than in-person training"

  • "I loved it, can I do it again please?"

Frequently asked questions

  • Applied Motivational Interviewing is designed to enrich and deepen confidence with the material covered in our face-to-face or online 2-day MI training course.

    The new course is an innovative addition to what we already offer as an organisation. It is intended for those who have already completed our foundation 2-day MI course, but is also accessible for new starters.

  • For many years we have been asked to provide an accredited MI course and are delighted to be able to offer this through Applied Motivational Interviewing.

    The course demands a commitment of time, personal reflection and study which supports daily practice. The many benefits of an online accredited course include national recognition, improved staff morale and retention, and opportunity for career development for team members.

    The course is accredited by CPDSO.

    • Core Values: Exploring the values that underpin how we work

    • Cycle of Change: Exploring the stages of change and how to navigate them effectively

    • The Four Tasks: Practical steps to facilitate change

    • OARS & Change Talk: Techniques for effective communication that promotes change

    • Heightened State: Recognising and adapting to moments of vulnerability

    • Supportive Challenge: Balancing support with challenge under pressure

    • The Drama Triangle: Identifying and shifting out of unproductive roles in conflict

  • We allocate 10 weeks to complete this course, during which time your Tutor will provide detailed feedback on your work.

    Each person approaches the work differently, so there is no set timeframe for each lesson. The videos last between 6-20 minutes, and every lesson comes with an assignment.

  • The waiting list is currently full. Some places are still available for our January Classrooms.

    October 2026

    Waiting List Only

    November 2026

    Waiting List Only

    January 2027

    Welcome call and classroom opens: Monday 18th January 2027

  • Email hello@acatraining.co.uk to secure your place in our next cohort.

  • Yes, we offer group discounts for teams (15+ places), and individuals who are self-funding

    Get in touch hello@acatraining.co.uk for more details.