🧭Motivational Interviewing (MI) | Free Course
- Jul 27
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 5
Free Course by Everything IFS Academy | Therapeutic Modalities Series
Welcome to the Free Motivational Interviewing (MI) Course for Everyday People
Motivational Interviewing was created by psychologist William R. Miller, whose 1983 article first named it, and developed into a full method with his co-author Stephen Rollnick, whose partnership carried it from addiction treatment into health care and far beyond. Born in the early 1980s from a finding that surprised an entire field, that empathy outperformed confrontation in helping people change, MI has since become one of the most researched conversation methods in existence, used today by doctors, counselors, coaches, teachers, and parents around the world. Its central insight is simple and quietly radical: people are not talked into change by others; they talk themselves into it, when someone knows how to listen.
This course teaches pure Motivational Interviewing, with no other modalities blended in. It's written in plain, emotionally relatable language anyone can follow, whether you work in the field or have never set foot in a therapy room. It isn't clinical training for therapists; it's MI you can put to use in your own life, in your own conversations, with the people you actually know. Each module offers clear teaching, real-life examples, and the practical tools, techniques, and strategies MI is known for, and every lesson ends with a simple practice so you can begin using the skill right away.
This course is self-paced, with no tests, exams, or homework. Feel free to go through it in order, or jump around to whatever interests you most.
Course outline
Click any lesson below to begin.
The Basics
The OARS Skills
Working with Change Talk Agenda Mapping and Finding a Focus Change Talk and Sustain Talk Evoking Change Talk Responding to Change Talk (EARS)
Deepening the Conversation Responding to Sustain Talk and Discord Exploring Values and Developing Discrepancy Elicit-Provide
Moving Toward Change Planning and the Change Plan
Going Deeper
Disclaimer:
Everything IFS Academy is an independent educational platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the IFS Institute. While we strive for accuracy, errors can occur, and users are encouraged to cross-reference critical information. These courses, lessons, skills, and practices are offered for educational and self-reflection purposes only. They do not constitute therapy, mental health treatment, clinical training, or crisis support, and they should not be used as a substitute for professional mental health care.
Crisis Support: 🚨
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, feel unsafe, feel at risk of harming yourself or someone else, or feel too overwhelmed to safely use self-directed practices, please pause this material and reach out for immediate support. Contact a licensed mental health professional, call or text 988 in the U.S. or Canada, or use your local emergency or crisis resources.
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