10 Years Together-
Renewing our Capacity for Change
What: Great Lakes Motivational Interviewing Conference
When: August 5-7, 2026
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 5-7, 2026
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 Best Western Premiere Park Hotel in Madison, Wisconsin.
Wednesday, August 5, 2026 Pre-Conference
Thursday, August 6-Friday, August 7, 2026 Conference
Learning Objectives:
Wednesday, August 5, 2026 Pre-Conference
Thursday, August 6-Friday, August 7, 2026 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
Keynote Speakers
Jess Sneed
Jess Sneed (they/them) is a Motivational Interviewing trainer, facilitator, and instructional designer with experience developing and delivering behavior change training and curricula for behavioral and mental health startups.
Jess graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Gender and Sexuality Studies. Jess is a passionate helper who takes a holistic, trauma-informed approach to helping folks make changes in their lives.
They became a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers in 2022 and have been working with a group of MINTies to uncover and define this new horizon with MI called Macro MI. Since beginning this work, Jess has co-facilitated several presentations and is excited to continue co-creating and training Macro.
Jess Sneed (they/them) is a Motivational Interviewing trainer, facilitator, and instructional designer with experience developing and delivering behavior change training and curricula for behavioral and mental health startups.
Jess graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Gender and Sexuality Studies. Jess is a passionate helper who takes a holistic, trauma-informed approach to helping folks make changes in their lives.
They became a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers in 2022 and have been working with a group of MINTies to uncover and define this new horizon with MI called Macro MI. Since beginning this work, Jess has co-facilitated several presentations and is excited to continue co-creating and training Macro.
Carol DeFrancesco
Carol DeFrancesco, MALS, RDN (she/her) has been an active member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) since completing her training for new trainers (TNT) in Quebec City in 2000 . She teaches a 12-week course in motivational interviewing to graduate level nutrition and nursing students. Carol also teaches a course in Sports Nutrition. She has 30 years’ experience in teaching, conducting health promotion research and clinical work, counseling patients in chronic disease prevention and lipid disorders. Carol directs health promotion research studying motivational interviewing, stress and mindfulness with wildland firefighters, long-haul truckers, bus operators, correctional and police officers and sport teams. Carol is works closely with Denise Ernst on her MITI (Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity) coding team and is also trained in the MICA (Motivational Interviewing Competency Assessment) coding system. Carol has developed and facilitated hundreds of tailored motivational interviewing workshops for doctors, nurses, dietitians, social workers, behavioral health clinicians, social workers, psychologists, health coaches, and sports coaches and provides training for trainers in evidence-based practices. Carol was a trainer for MINT sponsored TNT in New Orleans 2018, Tallinn, Estonia 2019 and support trainer for the virtual TNT in 2020.
Carol DeFrancesco, MALS, RDN (she/her) has been an active member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) since completing her training for new trainers (TNT) in Quebec City in 2000 . She teaches a 12-week course in motivational interviewing to graduate level nutrition and nursing students. Carol also teaches a course in Sports Nutrition. She has 30 years’ experience in teaching, conducting health promotion research and clinical work, counseling patients in chronic disease prevention and lipid disorders. Carol directs health promotion research studying motivational interviewing, stress and mindfulness with wildland firefighters, long-haul truckers, bus operators, correctional and police officers and sport teams. Carol is works closely with Denise Ernst on her MITI (Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity) coding team and is also trained in the MICA (Motivational Interviewing Competency Assessment) coding system. Carol has developed and facilitated hundreds of tailored motivational interviewing workshops for doctors, nurses, dietitians, social workers, behavioral health clinicians, social workers, psychologists, health coaches, and sports coaches and provides training for trainers in evidence-based practices. Carol was a trainer for MINT sponsored TNT in New Orleans 2018, Tallinn, Estonia 2019 and support trainer for the virtual TNT in 2020.
Agenda
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:
|
|
|
Registration Information
Early registration will open at the beginning of March!
The cost, registration deadline, and cancellation policy will be posted here once the information is available.
Lodging
There will be a room block available at the Best Western Premiere Park Hotel.
Address: 22 S Carroll St, Madison, WI 53703
Address: 22 S Carroll St, Madison, WI 53703
Continuing Education
Continuing education Units (CEUs) will be available, accredited by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Continuing Education.
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. 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. 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.
Proudly Partnering With
