Helping MI Learners Grow in Fidelity

How do we know it’s really good MI?

For Motivational Interviewing enthusiasts (practitioners, researchers, trainers, etc.) who wish to learn how helping professionals’ efforts can be evaluated for fidelity to the relational Spirit and technical skills of MI, we provide highly interactive and rigorous training in the Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity Coding Manual 4.2.1 ("the MITI”). We also model and practice providing helpful and MI-consistent coding feedback and discuss ways new coders can grow in coding proficiency and reliability.

MI coding is a bit like learning an instrument or a new sport. It can feel complicated and clunky at first, but with practice and time, it begins to “flow.” Also like playing an instrument, practicing with others is helpful to reduce drift from the “tune” of MI fidelity. This is why we invite MITI coders to join our coding consultation group, a monthly online meeting gathering we call “MI Geeks” Coding Lab during which we practice coding and evaluate inter-rater reliability together.

If you are interested in receiving MI fidelity coding for growing your own skills, please see our Coaching services.

  • The Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity Coding Manual 4.2.1 (Moyers, Manuel, & Ernst, 2014) or “the MITI” is a gold-standard in fidelity methods for MI.

    MITI is a one-pass behavioral coding system designed to measure treatment fidelity for Motivational Interviewing. A trained coder listens to a 20-minute segment of a helper’s session and assesses utilization of specific MI skills and relational processes to check for fidelity and proficiency in the application of the technique.

    Moyers, T.B., Manuel, J.K., & Ernst, D. (2014). Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity Coding Manual 4.2.1. Unpublished manual.

    Moyers, T. B., Martin, T., Manuel, J. K., Hendrickson, S. M. L., & Miller, W. R. (2005). Assessing competence in the use of motivational interviewing. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 28(1), 19-26.

  • Learners who have completed foundational MI training who wish to explore how coding increases learners’ proficiency and application of MI are encouraged to attend a Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity 4.2.1 (“the MITI”) Coding Training workshop with us. This interactive and intensive 16-hour training focuses on the skills to listen to MI recordings and carefully identify MI-consistent skills and MI-inconsistent behaviors and to rate global relational and technical skills. This training also includes guidance and practice for providing coding feedback and 1:1 coaching sessions with MI learners.

  • Learners who have completed MITI coding training are invited to join our monthly coding consultation group that we call the “MI Geeks” Coding Lab! We practice coding, including recordings provided by members of the lab for learners they are coaching, and evaluate inter-rater reliability together.

    We currently have two labs that meet on the first Wednesday of the month at 10:00am and 11:30am EST/USA.