Motivational Interviewing ECHO
A Tool for Behavior Change
Certificate Course for Mental Health Professionals
NIMHANS Digital Academy | Centre for Addiction Medicine
Understanding Motivational Interviewing
Motivational Interviewing is defined as:
"A directive, client-centered counseling style for eliciting behavior change by helping clients explore and resolve ambivalence."
Evolution and Applications
Initially used to motivate patients who abused alcohol to modify their drinking behaviors, Motivational Interviewing has been extended to other areas where change is required for positive impact:
- Brief intervention for behavior change
- Classroom management
- Lifestyle modification - diet, exercise, etc.
- Mental disorders - depression and anxiety
- Problem gambling
- Parenting
- Substance dependence
- Compliance and good habit formation
- Chronic condition management
The Traditional Approach Problem
Why Traditional Advice Often Fails:
Health professionals traditionally advise patients on how to change using a directing style, with the clinician acting as expert. This often involves persuasion.
Clinicians frequently observe this is a thankless task - it's extremely difficult to convince others to do what is "obviously" in their best interests.
Patient Response: When ambivalent people receive directive advice, they often report feeling:
- Defensive
- Uncomfortable
- Powerless
- Resistant
The MI Alternative
An Evidence-Based Solution:
This course provides a practical introduction to Motivational Interviewing, an alternative, evidence-based approach to carrying out discussions around change.
In simple terms: Motivational Interviewing is designed to encourage patients to talk themselves into making a change.
Core Goals
- Help patients identify and change behaviors that place them at risk of developing health problems
- Support optimal management of chronic conditions
- Recognize the dynamics of an individual's readiness to change behavior
- Help patients move through stages of readiness for change
VKN NIMHANS ECHO vs Traditional Telemedicine
❌ Traditional Telemedicine
- Focus is direct service delivery
- Usually one-to-one
- Unidirectional flow of information
- Single expert providing opinion
- The specialist manages the patient remotely
✓ VKN NIMHANS ECHO
- Focus is on education and capacity building
- One-to-many (hub and spokes)
- Multidirectional flow of knowledge
- Ongoing, based on learner's needs
- Multidisciplinary expert team providing mentoring
Impact of Motivational Interviewing ECHO
Program Success Metrics
Through Motivational Interviewing ECHO, 19 accredited mental health professionals (nurses, psychologists, social workers, and counselors) are now skilled in using MI to elicit behavior change, resolve ambivalence, and support over 5,100 clients in making positive health-related changes across substance dependence, mental disorders, lifestyle modification, and chronic disease management.
Learning Objectives
On course completion, health providers should be able to:
- Recognize the motivation stage of the client/patient/person
- Describe key principles to engage for each motivational stage
- Formulate effective strategies that will increase the likelihood of positive health-related outcomes
Program Goals
- Empower health professionals to handle mental health cases
- Connect with the experts of NIMHANS and develop peer network
Program Overview
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4 months (May to August 2019) Total: ~30 hours • 16 hours: Interactive case-based discussion and didactics (Real-time) • ~20 hours: Self-paced e-learning |
| Schedule | 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM (1.5 hours per session) |
| Target Audience | Intermediate Level: • Nurses, Psychologists, Psychiatric/Medical Social Workers • B.Sc Nursing, GNM nursing with mental health training • MSW, MA/MSc Psychology • Counselors working in counseling or drug addiction centers • Basic mental health training essential (Dip CMH or similar) |
| Who Should NOT Enroll | Complete beginners with no mental health experience |
| Case Presentation | Unique Feature: Written case summary with Audio clip of Motivational Interviewing • Only patient initials used (privacy protected) • Phone numbers of participants mandatory |
| Method | Completely ONLINE - Blended Patient-Centric Learning • Real-time: Zoom video conferencing (1 hour case + 20 min didactic) • Anytime: Self-paced e-learning (Google Classroom) • "Patient-centric", "Peer-led", "All teach-All learn" Model |
| Program Fees | FREE Part of democratizing knowledge in addiction mental health Commitment to time and participation is a must |
| Special Opportunity | ONSITE Component Available For successful completers: Self-sponsored brief 2-day onsite training at NIMHANS |
Why Should You Join?
- It's Virtual - Save time and energy by learning from home/workplace with no commute
- It's Free - Part of democratizing knowledge in addiction mental health
- It's Self-Paced - Works for YOUR schedule with anytime e-learning access
- It's Hassle-Free - Cloud-based, no paperwork, secure data management
- Best Practices at Your Fingertips - Access expert MI trainers from NIMHANS via any device
- Immediate Responses - Live chat and quick query resolution
- Fun with Learning - Connect with peers pan-India and build Community of Practice
- Lifelong Access - Google Classroom content available forever
- Onsite Training - Opportunity for 2-day hands-on training at NIMHANS
Accreditation Criteria
To receive the Completion Certificate, participants must fulfill ALL of the following criteria:
- Attendance: >60% in 2nd and 4th Wednesday Tele-ECHO VKN clinics with >75 minutes video presence per session (measured by software)
- Case Presentations: Presentation of 2 or more mental health patient case summaries with audio clips demonstrating MI techniques. Follow-up cases encouraged (count as case presentations)
- Assignments: Score >80% in assignments (Maximum 2 attempts, limited time frame)
- Monthly Reports: Submit monthly reports of patients seen
- Pre-test and Surveys: Completion of pre-test and periodic surveys
How to Do Voice Recording:
- Select a free app like "voice recorder" from Play Store
- Click "install" to install the voice recorder, then "Open" when ready
- Hit the "record" button with red dot to start recording
- Click red button again to stop, enter title, and click "save"
Important Notes:
- Assignments: Problem-based case scenarios, multiple choice, short notes
- Delivered online through Google Classroom
- Maximum 2 attempts in limited time frame
- NO Certificate for Participation Only - must complete all criteria
8-Session Comprehensive Curriculum
Objectives of the Program - MI
Materials: Curriculum, Case record proforma, Audio record consent form
Pre-test
Facilitator: Ms. Sandeepa Kaur
Topic: Spirit of Motivational Interviewing
Facilitator: Ms. Sandeepa Kaur
Reading: Principles (DARES)
Facilitator: Ms. Shikha Ahuja
Self Assessment I
Facilitator: Ms. Sandeepa Kaur
Facilitator: Ms. Smrithi
Self Assessment II
Facilitator: Ms. Sandeepa Kaur
Assignment
Facilitator: Ms. Sandeepa Kaur
Post-test
Core MI Concepts Covered
Comprehensive MI Training:
- Spirit of MI: Understanding the foundational philosophy
- Historical and Theoretical Background: Evolution and evidence base
- OARS Skills:
- Open-ended questions
- Affirmations
- Reflective listening
- Summaries
- DARES Principles: Core guiding principles
- Stages of Change: Recognizing and working with readiness
- Change Talk: Evoking and recognizing client language of change
- Sustain Talk: Responding to resistance and ambivalence
- Developing Change Plans: Collaborative goal-setting
- Strengthening Commitment: Moving from contemplation to action
- Session Framework: Structuring MI conversations
- Everyday Practice: Integrating MI into clinical work
Benefits
- Benefit from collective input of multidisciplinary specialists trained in Motivational Interviewing
- Build confidence in eliciting change talk and resolving ambivalence
- Join a supportive network of peers across India
- Learn evidence-based best practice guidelines
- Receive Completion Certificate on successful completion
- Become part of NIMHANS Digital Academy
- Opportunity for 2-day onsite training at NIMHANS
- Lifelong access to e-learning content
- Practical skill-building with audio recording feedback
Hub Team
Clinical Experts from NIMHANS ECHO Hub:
- Ms. Sandeepa Kaur - M.Phil Clinical Psychology (Facilitator)
- Dr. Shabina - MD Psychiatry (Co-facilitator)
Contributing Experts:
- Ms. Shikha Ahuja - Change Talk and Sustain Talk
- Ms. Smrithi - Strengthening Commitment
Support Team:
- Mr. Aurobind - IT Support Analyst
- Ms. Meghana - Communication Specialist (WP/Phone: 9480829844)
Peer Reviewers:
- Dr. Gitanjali - PhD Clinical Psychology, CAM, NIMHANS
- Dr. Seema - PhD Clinical Psychology, Coordinator for NIMHANS Digital Academy
- Ms. Sandhya Cashikar - Counselor and Addiction Expert
- Dr. Mallikarjun - DNB Psychiatry and Expert
ECHO Principles
The VKN NIMHANS ECHO model is built on four core principles:
- Use technology to leverage scarce resources (i.e., content experts)
- Share "best practices" to reduce treatment disparities
- Use case-based learning to master complexity
- Monitor outcomes using a web-based database
Contact Information
Communication Expert:
Ms. Meghana - 9480829844 (WhatsApp/Phone)
Suggestions and Comments:
Dr. Prabhat Chand - MD, DNB, MNAMS
Email: pr*****@********ns.in
NIMHANS Digital Academy
Centre for Addiction Medicine
National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences
Empowering Change Through Motivational Interviewing
Training mental health professionals to use evidence-based MI techniques to elicit behavior change, resolve ambivalence, and help clients talk themselves into making positive health-related changes.
Over 5,100 clients have benefited from MI-based interventions delivered by our 19 accredited professionals, experiencing improved motivation, reduced ambivalence, and successful behavior change across substance dependence, mental disorders, lifestyle modification, and chronic disease management.