Cultivating Compassion, Healing, and Hope
What: Great Lakes Motivational Interviewing Conference
When: August 6-8, 2025
Where: Madison, Wisconsin
Motivational interviewing (MI) is a highly flexible and powerful approach to helping practitioners address behavioral change and growth for their clients and patients. MI is particularly useful because it can be applied to a variety of situations and settings, including behavioral health, human services, health care, education, corrections, business and more.
This summer, we invite you to explore how the practice of MI can improve your clients’ engagement, resulting in transformative outcomes.
The interactive Great Lakes Motivational Interviewing Conference will share best practices, build skills and promote interprofessional networking. Breakout sessions will be offered at various levels, targeting students, providers who are new to MI and seasoned practitioners.
We look forward to welcoming you to the beautiful city of Madison, where you can learn more about this evidence-based practice, hone your skills and network with other MI practitioners and trainers from the Midwest.
Please direct questions to [email protected]
When: August 6-8, 2025
Where: Madison, Wisconsin
Motivational interviewing (MI) is a highly flexible and powerful approach to helping practitioners address behavioral change and growth for their clients and patients. MI is particularly useful because it can be applied to a variety of situations and settings, including behavioral health, human services, health care, education, corrections, business and more.
This summer, we invite you to explore how the practice of MI can improve your clients’ engagement, resulting in transformative outcomes.
The interactive Great Lakes Motivational Interviewing Conference will share best practices, build skills and promote interprofessional networking. Breakout sessions will be offered at various levels, targeting students, providers who are new to MI and seasoned practitioners.
We look forward to welcoming you to the beautiful city of Madison, where you can learn more about this evidence-based practice, hone your skills and network with other MI practitioners and trainers from the Midwest.
Please direct questions to [email protected]
Details
This conference will be held at the Pyle Center in Madison, Wisconsin.
Wednesday, August 6, 2025 Pre-Conference
Thursday, August 7-Friday, August 8, 2025 Conference
Learning Objectives:
Wednesday, August 6, 2025 Pre-Conference
Thursday, August 7-Friday, August 8, 2025 Conference
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the purpose, benefits and limitations of MI
- Identify key concepts, attitudes, processes, skills and strategies of MI
- Identify best practices for using MI across professions
- Describe how MI can be used as part of an interprofessional team
- Plan how to incorporate MI skills into your professional practice
Who Should Attend
The conference is for any helping professional who works directly with clients who are reluctant to change their attitudes, behaviors and/or thoughts. This training experience should be helpful for participants who have never learned about MI, have forgotten what they learned about MI or want a good review in order to recommit to this evidence based practice. It is designed for those who want beginning to advancing professionals working across the United States, including but not limited to:
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Testimonials
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“I believe that Motivational Interviewing has to be both taught AND caught. This conference delivered both of these experiences at a very high level that was informational, fun, and challenging.” -Scott Stoner, therapist/executive director “The MI conference rejuvenated my passion for client-centered care and belief in the client’s ability to change. The conference included professionals who were able to articulate and model amazing use of MI skills.” -Lauren Hollie, social worker |
“The 2023 Motivational Interviewing Conference was a transformative experience, especially as an aspiring medical student. Learning to engage and evoke self-awareness, bridge collaboration, and empower individuals was crucial in the clinical context. The emphasis on compassion, affirmation, and reflective statements provided tools to strengthen motivation, guide positive change, and align values. This conference has reshaped my approach, equipping me to connect empathetically and effectively as I work towards becoming a medical professional.” -Venkata Reshma Alla, pre-med student “This [conference] course provided practical skills to integrate MI into leadership conversations. I have a better handle on the theories that intersect with MI in leadership and practical skills to begin using.” -Leah Voigt Potter, clinical administrator |
Highlights
Keynote Speakers
Ali Hall
Ali Hall is a member of the Motivational Interview
ing Network of Trainers (MINT), a MINT Certified Trainer, and an independent consultant and trainer. Ali currently serves as a Director Emeritus from the MINT Board of Directors where she focuses on professional skill development for MI practitioners and trainers.
Ali has designed and facilitated thousands of Motivational Interviewing (MI) workshops for a wide variety of providers, including those who serve within behavioral health, substance use recovery, mental health, health care, child and family, wraparound, senior service, and criminal justice systems. Ali also provides training for trainers in several evidence-based practices. Ali regularly provides skill development coaching for interdisciplinary provider teams. Ali is the co-developer of the Motivational Interviewing Competency Assessment (MICA), a coding and coaching tool for MI skill improvement, co-author of the book Motivational Interviewing for Mental Health Clinicians: A Toolkit for Skill Development (2021) and co-author of the forthcoming What’s the Problem? An Advanced Guide to Motivational Interviewing (2025).
You can read her full bio and find the link to her training website here.
Amy Shanahan
Amy Shanahan brings 3+ decades of experience in behavioral healthcare to her work as owner of Compass Consulting & Training. Her passion lies in fostering learning and growth, specializing in Motivational Interviewing (MI) training for diverse healthcare professionals. Amy’s background includes system-wide project leadership and a Master of Science in Creativity, enhancing her ability to facilitate engaging workshops and trainings in problem-solving, leadership, and team coaching. A member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers since 2016, Amy creates dynamic learning environments that empower individuals and organizations to achieve their change goals.
Get to know Amy via Motivational Interviewing Podcast – Lions, Tigers, Bears-MI!
Amy Shanahan brings 3+ decades of experience in behavioral healthcare to her work as owner of Compass Consulting & Training. Her passion lies in fostering learning and growth, specializing in Motivational Interviewing (MI) training for diverse healthcare professionals. Amy’s background includes system-wide project leadership and a Master of Science in Creativity, enhancing her ability to facilitate engaging workshops and trainings in problem-solving, leadership, and team coaching. A member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers since 2016, Amy creates dynamic learning environments that empower individuals and organizations to achieve their change goals.
Get to know Amy via Motivational Interviewing Podcast – Lions, Tigers, Bears-MI!
Thursday, August 7
Keynote Presentation followed by breakout session!
The day will begin at 8:00am.
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Friday, August 8
Keynote Presentation followed by a group activity!
The day will begin at 8:00am and end by 12:00pm.
More details about the agenda will be available soon.
Registration Information
Cost:
Value |
Price before June 16 |
Price between June 16 – July 24 |
Price after July 24 |
Pre-Conference |
$225 |
$250 |
$275 |
Conference |
$300 |
$350 |
$375 |
Pre-Conference and Conference Bundle |
$400 |
$450 |
$500 |
Cancellation policy:
A full refund will be issued to registered participants if the Great Lakes Motivational Interviewing Conference is cancelled for any reason. If a participant wishes to cancel their registration for the Great Lakes Motivational Interviewing Conference, it must be received in writing no later than July 15, 2025. A cancellation processing fee of $50.00 (or full registration amount, whichever is less) will be deducted from the refund. No exceptions. Registrants wishing to cancel may instead transfer their registration to someone else without penalty if they send a written request with the new registrant's details by July 19, 2025. Cancellations received after July 24, 2025, will not be refunded, or provided a voucher. You must cancel in advance of the conference. No refunds will be issued once the event has concluded, regardless of whether you participated in the event.
Registration Deadline: August 1, 2025
A full refund will be issued to registered participants if the Great Lakes Motivational Interviewing Conference is cancelled for any reason. If a participant wishes to cancel their registration for the Great Lakes Motivational Interviewing Conference, it must be received in writing no later than July 15, 2025. A cancellation processing fee of $50.00 (or full registration amount, whichever is less) will be deducted from the refund. No exceptions. Registrants wishing to cancel may instead transfer their registration to someone else without penalty if they send a written request with the new registrant's details by July 19, 2025. Cancellations received after July 24, 2025, will not be refunded, or provided a voucher. You must cancel in advance of the conference. No refunds will be issued once the event has concluded, regardless of whether you participated in the event.
Registration Deadline: August 1, 2025
Meals:
Breakfast will be provided. All other meals will be on your own.
Breakfast will be provided. All other meals will be on your own.
Lodging
There will be a room block available at the Madison Concourse Hotel.
A link to hotel passkey will be available soon. Until that is posted, you can call the Madison Concourse Hotel at 800-356-8293 and ask for the Great Lakes Motivational Interviewing Conference room block.
A link to hotel passkey will be available soon. Until that is posted, you can call the Madison Concourse Hotel at 800-356-8293 and ask for the Great Lakes Motivational Interviewing Conference room block.
Continuing Education
Continuing education Units (CEUs) will be available, accredited by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Continuing Education. The most amount of possible continuing education hours has not been calculated yet.
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s School of Continuing Education will email conference Continuing Education Units (CEUs) to the email address listed on participant’s registration. Participation will be verified and CEUs sent prior to September 1, 2025. Be sure to check-in at the in-person conference, to ensure the correct processing of your CEUs. CEUs are earned by participating in live sessions.
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s School of Continuing Education will email conference Continuing Education Units (CEUs) to the email address listed on participant’s registration. Participation will be verified and CEUs sent prior to September 1, 2025. Be sure to check-in at the in-person conference, to ensure the correct processing of your CEUs. CEUs are earned by participating in live sessions.
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