
Couples counseling has a long history in many countries. Recent years have seen renewed interest in how MI can be used with couples to support individual behavior change. Relationship partners (e.g., married spouses, cohabiting couples, main or primary relationship partners, dating partners) have substantial potential to influence one another’s behavior. Partners in such relationships often rely on one another in important ways. They may share important resources (like money, housing costs, social networks, or time). They can also influence one another through their social interactions.
In many ways, MI with couples draws upon elements of established MI practice that will be familiar to any experienced practitioner (for example, MI spirit, processes, and skills like OARS). At the same time, working with a couple means forming an alliance with both of the partners (individually) as well as with the couple as a whole. It involves allowing partners to speak to one another and helping them to communicate more effectively than they might on their own. The workshop will discuss how established MI practices are adjusted in response to these considerations.
One of the biggest challenges in conducting MI with couples has historically been responding in situations where partners feel differently about whether or how change should happen. The workshop will introduce a novel process unique to MI with couples – Facilitating Dyadic Functioning – as well as strategies for supporting productive conversation between partners (and reducing conflict) that have been developed specifically to address this challenge.
This workshop is intended as a practical introduction to couples MI. The workshop is designed for providers familiar with MI who are (or wish to begin) integrating couples’ services into their practice. It will therefore incorporate demonstration, structured practice, and discussion.
Who Can Attend?
Any helping professional interested in learning more about Motivational Interviewing with Couples! This is best suitable for intermediate to advanced MI learners.

Only!
$37
Please review our FAQs before registering.
100% Privacy. We Will Never Spam You
After participating in this activity, learners will be able to:
Describe the role of the counselor in an MI session.
Describe how relationship partners and relationships in general influence individual behavior.
Identify the difference between speaking to an individual versus a couple.
List how change plans integrate partner engagement.

Speaker Bio:
Tyrel J. Starks PhD
I am a licensed clinical psychologist and an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Hunter College. I have been involved in the delivery, supervision and training of MI for over a decade. This includes extensive experience with MI delivered in the context of randomized controlled trials and also in health care and community-based organizations. I aim for trainings to be fun and informative spaces for actual skill development. With preparation and an open mind, the expertise of trainings and the core concepts of MI can be brought together to yield knowledge and skills with immediate practical value -- provided we can find time to give ourselves permission to practice.
Continuing Education
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 (8/20/24-8/20/25).
Frequently asked questions
Receive a certificate for 1.5 hour of CE for completing this course!
For CE, you must watch the video, score a passing grade on the quiz and complete the end of course evaluation.
We do not provide CE certificate for partial completion.
Following the learning session and completion of End of Course evaluation, participants will receive an email with their downloadable CE certificate within 48 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 1.5 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 keep my access to the materials?
You will have access for 30 days starting on your purchase date. All of the downloadable materials are yours to keep!
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.
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.
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.
1.5 Hour Workshop
Motivational Interviewing with Couples
$37/ One time payment
Please review our FAQs before registering.
100% Privacy. We Will Never Spam You!

Contact us for a free MI Exploration Call for your agency or organization.
Phone
Copyright © 2025 MI Center for Change All rights reserved.


Contact us for a free MI Exploration Call for your agency or organization.
Phone