6 hours Motivational Interviewing with Couples

Special Topics in MI Series Presents:

6 Hours Motivational Interviewing with Couples

Recent years have seen renewed interest in how motivational interviewing can be used with couples to support individual behavior change. This day-long workshop introduces attendees to essential aspects of the theory and practice of motivational interviewing with couples. The workshop begins with an overview of what relationship science has learned about motivation and the implications for health-related decision making. Trainees then learn how MI with couples expands upon the individual MI skill-set. The morning session culminates in the introduction of how counselors engage couples in ways that align with MI Spirit. The afternoon session begins with a focus on strengths-based communication skill building and skills for mitigating conflict and exploring change-related goals in session. It culminates with an overview of goal-setting and planning with couples and special practice-related considerations. Throughout the workshop, concepts are illustrated in example session transcripts and activities.

How this course works

Who Can Attend?

This workshop is suitable for couples therapists or therapists interested in couples therapy that are already familiar with Motivational Interviewing. This course is for intermediate to advanced MI learners. This is a live, interactive training day and seats are limited!

Continuing Education

Earn 6 hours of Continuing Education Credits!

Learn more about our Continuing Education providers here. We do not provide partial Continuing Education credit for this course.

View course syllabus

At the end of this session, learners will be able to:

Describe how relationship partners and relationships in general influence individual behavior.
Explain the importance of facilitating dyadic functioning in MI with couples.
Demonstrate the difference between speaking to an individual versus a couple.
Explain the role of the counselor in an MI session with a couple.
Produce examples of couple-level utterances.
Differentiate between effective and ineffective counselor responses to conflict between relationship partners.
Explain the role of relationship partners in goal-formation and change planning.
Explain the importance of having consent and screening procedures that anticipate the needs of couples.

Join us on January 30th, 2026 from 10:00am-5:00pm ET.

(9aCT/ 8aMT/ 7aPT/ 3pUTC)

$247 per person

Registration closed

We are committed to expanding equity in online education and want to encourage new perspectives and an inclusive learning space. Please reach out to us if you need to request a scholarship or sliding scale for this course.

Registration will close on January 29, 2026, at 2:59 p.m. ET—or sooner if all seats are filled!

Please review our FAQs before registering.

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Speaker Bio:

Tyrel J. Starks PhD

Dr. Starks obtained his PhD in Clinical Psychology (specializing in work with children and adolescents) from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 2009. Currently, he is a Professor of Psychology at Hunter College of the City University of New York; a New York State licensed clinical psychologist; and certified trainer and member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT). For more than a decade, Dr. Starks has conducted research funded by the National Institutes of Health focused on sexual-romantic relationships and health, with a particular emphasis on the development of substance use and sexual health interventions for couples. This work is ongoing and includes the 2022 publication of his book, Motivational Interviewing with Couples, by Oxford University Press. He also has a blog on Psychology Today.

Continuing Education

MI Center for Change has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7223. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. MI Center for Change is solely responsible for all aspects of the program.
MI Center for Change is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. MI Center for Change maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
MI Center for Change maintains responsibility for this program and its content. MI Center for Change #1911, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval periods (8/20/25 - 8/20/28).
Regarding other licensures and certifications, you will be provided with a certificate of completion at course completion, with total course hours, objectives, and trainer bio for submission to your licensure board.

Learn more about our CE Approvals

Frequently asked questions

Course Objectives

Course Syllabus

Describe how relationship partners and relationships in general influence individual behavior.
Explain the importance of facilitating dyadic functioning in MI with couples
Demonstrate the difference between speaking to an individual versus a couple.
Explain the role of the counselor in an MI session with a couple.
Produce examples of couple-level utterances.
Differentiate between effective and ineffective counselor responses to conflict between relationship partners
Explain the role of relationship partners in goal-formation and change planning.
Explain the importance of having consent and screening procedures that anticipate the needs of couples.

Course Agenda

Course Syllabus

10:00am – 10:15: Introductions
10:15 – 10:30: Background and essential concepts
- Relationships as a source of motivation
- MI with couples: Expanding existing MI skills
10:30 – 11:00: The Spirit of MI when the Couple is the Client
- Session analysis (transcript 1: example of poor MI spirit)
11:00 – 11:45: Engaging with couples
- Practice activity (worksheet 1: generating couple-level utterances)
- Session analysis (transcript 2: example of strong MI spirit)
11:45 – 12:00: MIDMORNING BREAK
12:00 – 12:45: Responding to how couples speak to us
- Session analysis (transcript 3: examples of 3 styles)
- Practice activity (worksheet 2: vignette practice transcripts)
12:45 – 1:15: Drawing out and amplifying relationship quality
1:15 – 1:45: LUNCH BREAK
1:45 – 2:30: Supporting successful communication in session (recognizing adaptive communication; recognizing and responding to common forms of conflict in session)
- Session analysis (transcript 3: strengths-based communication skill building)
2:30 – 3:00: Negotiating a focus or target behavior
3:00 – 3:15: AFTERNOON BREAK
3:15 – 3:30: Evocation: Balancing seeking consensus and eliciting change talk
- Practice activity (worksheet 3: vignette practice transcripts)
3:30 – 4:00: Planning and goal setting with couples
- Session analysis (transcripts 5 and 6: planning examples)
4:00 – 4:15: Special considerations when relationships end
4:15 – 4:30: Best practice considerations when working with couples
4:30 – 5:00: Wrap-up: Questions and summary comments

What Continuing Education is available?

Receive a certificate for 6 hours of CE for attending this workshop!

We do not provide CE certificate for partial attendance.
Following learning session and completion of End of Course evaluation, participants will receive an email with their downloadable CE certificate with 48 business hours.

This course is approved by the following continuing education listed above, or you can view our course syllabus for more details.
Does your board not accept CE from any of our continuing education providers? Upon workshop completion, you will receive a certificate of 6 hours of CE, and we will provide trainer bio and workshop objects to turn in to your board along with your certificate of completion.

Check out our complete List of CE Approvals here. Those not mentioned in the course syllabus do not apply to this course. MI Center for Change maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Please email admin@micenterforchange.com if you have any questions or concerns.

Will I be receiving a recording of the event?

No, this event will not be recorded. It is live and interactive, and participants must attend the entire 6 hours to receive Continuing Education. No partial CE will be awarded.

System Requirements, Terms and Conditions

Please take the time to read the System Requirements and Terms and Conditions for attending MI Center for Change events. You may view them here.

Why do I need to check my spam folder for event notifications?

MI Center for Change email notifications are sent from our event management system to the email address you used to register for an event. Certain email providers have very sensitive spam filters, your MI Center for Change event notifications may therefore land in your spam folder. While we do our utmost to make sure that you receive all notifications, we advise you to check your spam folder before contacting us, if you notice that you have not received an anticipated email notification about an upcoming event that you have registered for.

Who do I contact with any queries about this course?

Please email admin@micenterforchange.com with any queries you may have about this course. There may be a delay in responding to your query if it is sent to any other email address.

6 Hour Live Workshop

6 Hours Motivational Interviewing with Couples

Join us on January 30th from 10:00am-5:00pm ET

$247 per person

Registration will close on January 29, 2026, at 2:59 p.m. ET—or sooner if all seats are filled!

Registration closed

Please review our FAQs before registering.

100% Privacy. We Will Never Spam You!