Description
This session helps clinicians refine their Motivational Interviewing skills for situations involving ambivalence, avoidance, and challenging interpersonal dynamics. Participants will learn how to elicit, amplify, and strengthen change talk using the DARN framework (Desire, Ability, Reasons, Need), and how to help clients develop personally meaningful reasons for change even when participation is mandated. The session will also cover practical, non-confrontational methods for rolling with resistance including responding to defensiveness, disengagement, and oppositional statements while preserving rapport and therapeutic momentum. Through integrated practice scenarios that mirror real-world forensic interactions, participants will learn to apply advanced MI techniques to enhance motivation, reduce behavioral escalation, and support patients’ movement toward treatment participation and competency-related goals.
Format
Live webinar.
Learning Objectives
Identify and evoke DARN-C change talk (Desire, Ability, Reason, Need, Commitment) during conversations with clients showing ambivalence or resistance.
Guide clients in articulating their own reasons for change, particularly in mandated treatment scenarios.
Apply MI-consistent strategies for rolling with resistance, including responding to oppositional or disengaged statements without confrontation.
Outline
- Introduction to Motivational Interviewing in forensic settings
- Core concepts: resistance, change talk, and DARN-CAT framework
- Practical techniques to evoke change talk
- Strategies for rolling with resistance
- Key takeaways for applying MI effectively
Target Audience
Psychiatrist, Resident or Fellow, Medical Student, Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Technician, Psychologist, Counselor/Therapist, Social Worker, Student (Non-Medical), Peer Specialist
Instructional Level
Introductory, Intermediate
Estimated Time to Complete
Estimated Duration: 60 minutes/hours
Program Release Date: January 29, 2026
Program End Date: January 29, 2026
Ongoing Interdisciplinary Discussion Board
After completing the course, engage with colleagues in the mental health field through the Webinar Roundtable Topics discussion board. This is an easy way to network and share ideas with other clinicians who participate in this webinar. Access through the discussion tab.
How to Earn Credit
After completing the evaluation, participants will have the opportunity to claim their hours of participation and download the appropriate certificate. Physicians may obtain an official CME certificate, other healthcare professionals may receive a CE certificate (as applicable), and all other attendees may generate a certificate of participation. Each certificate will reflect the event date and total hours earned.
Continuing Education Credit
In support of improving patient care, American Psychiatric Association (APA) is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Physicians
The APA designates this live event for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Nurses/Nurse Practitioners
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) designates this activity for 1.00 Nursing contact hours. Nurses should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Psychiatric Technicians
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) is approved by the California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (BVNPT) as a provider of continuing education for Licensed Psychiatric Technicians (LPTs). Provider Number: 15028
This course is approved for 1.00 of continuing education for LPTs.
Psychologists
Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.
Social Workers
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, American Psychiatric Association (APA) is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. APA maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive up to 1.00 clinical continuing education credits.
***Continuing education requirements vary from state to state. Many state boards grant reciprocity with national accrediting organizations and other state boards. It is the responsibility of each professional to understand the requirements for license renewal or check with the state or national licensing board and/or professional organization to become more familiar with their policies for acceptable continuing education credit. Social workers and Psychologists should contact their regulatory board to determine course approval.
Faculty and Planner Disclosures
The American Psychiatric Association adheres to the ACCME's Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CME activity - including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others - are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.
Faculty:
- Sherin Khan, LCSW is Vice President of Operations and Strategy for Thresholds, Illinois’ oldest and largest provider of mental health services. She is also a clinical expert team member for SMI CalAdviser. Ms. Khan has 15 years of experience in the non-profit sector with a focus on serving those who have serious mental illness. She served on the SAMHSA-funded SMI Adviser and the SAMHSA-funded Serious Mental Illness Training and Technical Assistance Center. Similar to SMI CalAdviser, these two national Centers provided essential training, resources, and clinical consultation to support the mental health workforce caring for individuals with SMI. She has held both clinical and administrative leadership positions designing and implementing trainings to improve organizational and workforce effectiveness. Ms. Khan holds a Masters of Social Work degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Ms. Khan has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Program Planners:
- John Torous, MD, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Dr. Torous has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
- Kathryn Hanley, APRN, Austin State Hospital. Ms. Hanley has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
- Megan Ehret, PharmD, BCPP, University of Maryland, Baltimore. Dr. Ehret has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
- Amy N. Cohen, PhD, American Psychiatric Association. Dr. Cohen reports no financial relationships with commercial interests.
- Charles Perdue, Department of State Hospitals. Mr. Perdue reports no financial relationships with commercial interests.
- Sherin Khan, LCSW, Thresholds. Ms. Khan reports no financial relationships with commercial interests.
Accessibility for Participants with Disabilities
The American Psychiatric Association is committed to ensuring accessibility of its website to people with disabilities. If you have trouble accessing any of APA’s online resources, please contact us at 202-559-3900 for assistance.
Technical Requirements
This internet-based CME activity is best experienced using any of the following:
The latest and 2nd latest public versions of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari
Internet Explorer 11+
This Web site requires JavaScript and session cookies to be enabled. Certain activities may require additional software to view multimedia, presentation, or printable versions of the content. These activities will be marked as such and will provide links to the required software. That software may be Adobe Acrobat Reader, Microsoft PowerPoint, or Windows Media Player.
Optimal System Configuration:
Browser: Google Chrome (latest and 2nd latest version), Safari (latest and 2nd latest version), Internet Explorer 11.0+, Firefox (latest and 2nd latest version), or Microsoft Edge (latest and 2nd latest version)
Operating System: Windows versions 8.1+, Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) +, Android (latest and 2nd latest version), or iOS/iPad OS (latest and 2nd latest version)
Internet Connection: 1 Mbps or higher
Minimum Requirements:
Windows PC:
Windows 8.1 or higher; 1 GB (for 32-bit)/2 GB (for 64-bit) or higher RAM; Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver; audio playback with speakers for programs with video
For assistance: Contact educme@psych.org for questions about this activity |
Contact support@smicaladviser.org for technical assistance