Returning to the Heart of the Work: Sustaining Your Motivational Interviewing Spirit and Values
Please note: This training is not eligible for CE credits.
Each registration includes a certificate for attendance. To be eligible for a certificate, you must attend the entire live training and complete an evaluation form within 24 hours following the live event.
The spirit of Motivational Interviewing (MI) refers to the relational stance or way of being with clients when helping them to find their own reasons to grow and make changes to their lives. 
Not just the practitioner’s mindset, the spirit is often said to involve a “heart set.” It involves approaching each client in the spirit of partnership, acceptance as a fellow human being, compassion, and empowerment. These qualities are at the center of best practices; yet as many professionals know, maintaining this spirit can be difficult.
If you’ve ever felt like your MI spirit was running on empty, you’re not alone. Even the most experienced practitioners hit those days when partnership feels impossible, acceptance seems out of reach, and compassion for others gets buried under their own struggles. As this training illustrates, the MI spirit isn’t a destination we arrive at once and then we’re home free. It’s a road you travel despite the potholes along the way..
Sarah Cameron and Annabys Jordan created this training to offer something many practitioners desperately need: a judgment-free way to reflect on their work and monitor their professional growth. It focuses on simple, sustainable practices such as:
- The Spirit Tank Daily Diagnostics – a practical tool for assessing the four core MI spirit elements so you can pinpoint exactly where you’re struggling and what needs attention
- Two-minute reflections and end-of-day check-ins that help you build awareness without adding to your already full plate.
This training is reinvigorating, engaging, and builds on our knowledge that if we don’t have a way to measure progress, we can’t always know if we’re growing. It provides an opportunity for professionals to stop spinning their wheels and start fueling our practices with intention.
Interactive Follow-Up Meeting
Attendees are invited to join an open discussion 15 minutes following the end of the training, where you can engage with fellow attendees by turning on your camera and microphone. This is an opportunity to share your experiences and contribute to a meaningful exchange of ideas. Time will be allocated to address questions or insights from the training. Please note that attendance is optional and will not affect your eligibility for a training certificate.
1) Identify their own core values and explore how these values connect to their work.
2) Explain the four components of MI Spirit (Partnership, Acceptance, Compassion, and Empowerment) as aspirational directions rather than fixed ideals and apply them to challenging scenarios.
3) Use structured self-inquiry tools and integrate micro-practices to identify areas of strength, opportunities for growth, and ways to sustain MI Spirit in daily work.
Audience
This training is primarily for helping professionals who use, or want to use, Motivational Interviewing in their day-to-day work with clients. This includes psychologists, counselors, social workers, healthcare professionals, and other related behavioral health professions. Person-centered helpers working in community mental health, direct services, casework, crisis response, advocacy, peer support, and similar roles where MI-consistent conversations are part of practice will also benefit.
Content Level
Cancellations
Who's Presenting
Sarah Cameron, MS, NCNTT, NBC-HWC
Sarah Cameron is a nationally board-certified health and wellness coach, a Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist Trainer, and a MINT member since 2022. She specializes in helping professionals translate communication skills into action, ensuring that Motivational Interviewing concepts are not just learned but applied effectively in real-world interactions.
Annabys Jordan
Annabys Jordan is a dedicated mental health professional with over 15 years of experience in the field. She has worked closely with children and families navigating trauma, emotional struggles and behavioral challenges, partnering with community systems to overcome barriers to care.
Her expertise extends beyond clinical practice into Clinical Learning and Development, where she shines as a trainer specializing in Motivational Interviewing (MI). Known for her dynamic facilitation style, Annabys creates training experiences that are both engaging and practical, while also offering individualized clinical coaching. She designs tailored programs that align with organizational goals, empowering professionals, whether new or experienced, with the skills and confidence to make a lasting impact.
Annabys is a proud member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) and a Co-Founder of the Alliance for Motivational Interviewing Growth and Advancement (AMIGA). Most recently she co-authored two influential books on motivational interviewing: The Aspirational Spirit of Motivational Interviewing and Becoming MI.