MI OARS Playground

Weekly Motivational Interviewing OARS Skills Practice Sessions!

6-hour LIVE workshop when you attend four 1.5 hour MI OARS Playground sessions!

MI OARS Playground Zoom Sessions

OARS skills are the 'microskills' of MI, and OARS stands for Open-ended questions, Affirmations, Reflections and Summaries.

In these weekly 1.5-hour MI OARS Playground Zoom sessions, you will dig deeper into MI skills practice via practice activities and Q&A with a MINT-member trainer.

MI OARS Playground Zoom Sessions are held weekly.
You will be provided with log-in information and reminders for upcoming sessions.
When you complete each of the interactive OARS MI Playground sessions, we provide 6 hours of LIVE Continuing Education.
This course is best suitable for any helping professional interested in learning more about Motivational Interviewing! This is suitable for beginners or if you need a refresher in Motivational Interviewing (it’s been a while!).
Course syllabus

MI OARS Playground Sessions: How It Works!

Live interactive MI OARS Playground Sessions meet at different dates and times each month to accommodate various time zones and schedules! You will have 6 months' access to the Live MI OARS Playground Sessions. See calendar and agenda below. The MI OARS Playground sessions follow the OARS skills. The first MI Playground of each month is Open-Ended question practice, the second is Affirmation practice, the third Reflection practice, and fourth Summary practice. You must attend one of each of these four sessions to complete the 6-hour course. This means you must attend Sessions 1, 2, 3 and 4 to cover each of the OARS skills.

2025/2026 MI OARS Playground Calendar

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Which Course is Right For Me?

MI OARS Playground is a great course to refresh your MI skills, or good for the new MI learner.

This 6-hour course is included in our Level 1: Foundations of MI course (which includes 6-self-paced asynchronous modules introducing the concepts of MI), or, if you are already familiar with what MI is, the spirit and OARS skills and 4 Tasks, you can purchase MI OARS Playground LIVE course separately here!

Not sure if you would be a better fit for an intermediate or advanced course?

Learn more about our courses!

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Continuing Education

MI Center for Change is a NBCC approved CE provider, ACEP No 7223. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. MI Center for Change is soley responsible for all aspects of the program. Your licensure board may or may not accept CE from NBCC. We encourage you to check! Regardless, you will be provided with a certificate of completion at course completion with total continuing education hours completed. You may request additional documentation that includes course objectives and trainer bio for submission to your licensure board.
MI Center for Change is approved for Continuing Education through NAADAC, provider #222168. Most courses include NAADAC approval, and are clearly identified. If you click here, you can read about organizations and boards that may accept NAADAC-approved CE's, but others may not. Each course clearly identifies CE provided.
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. Your licensure board may or may not accept CE from APA. We encourage you to check! Regardless, you will be provided with a certificate of completion at course completion with total continuing education hours completed. You may request additional documentation that includes course objectives and trainer bio for submission to your licensure board.
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).
MI Center for Change maintains responsibility for this program and its content. MI Center for Change courses 25-025-S (MI OARS Playground and Motivational Interviewing and Substance Misuse) is approved as a North Carolina Addictions Specialist Professional Practice Board (NCASPPB). Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. NCASPPB provider approval periods (11/25/24-11/25/25).

Check with your licensure board if they accept CE from these approved providers. We cannot guarantee CE provision for every licensure board. Please do not email us to ask if your licensure board will accept our CE. If you have questions about whether your board will accept these CE, you may submit the Course Syllabus to your licensure board to inquire. There is a Course Syllabus for each course posted on the web page of each course.

Hillary Logan, MSW, LCSW, LCAS
Founder, MI Consultant & Trainer

I am one of those folks that inherently thinks I have great ideas and solutions for people upon first encounter (Enneagram 1!). I’m ready to jump in and FIX! When I began my MI learning process, I realized just how essential MI was going to be for my energy, effectiveness, and longevity in the helping profession!

I have been a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) since 2011. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker & Addiction Therapist and absolutely delight in helping individuals, groups, and organizations learn the essential skills of Motivational Interviewing. I invite you to join us on your MI learning journey!

Check out all of our instructors here!

Frequently asked questions

Find answers to questions about this Motivational Interviewing workshop.

If you are signing up a group of 4 or more, you are eligible for a group discount.

Email us for more information on how to register groups.

We are committed to expanding equity in online education and want to encourage new perspectives and an inclusive learning space. We have scholarships available. Contact us for information on scholarships. Please reach out to us for questions.

What If I don't finish in 6 months/24 weeks?

You only have 24 weeks of access to the entire course (self-paced content and MI OARS Playground live Zoom calendar).

Course Information, Objectives & Agenda

6 Hours of MI OARS Playground Sessions

Demonstrate MI core communication skills: Open Ended questions, Affirmations, Reflections, Summaries
OARS: Explain the differences between Open and Close-ended questions
OARS: Identify the differences between simple and complex reflections
OARS: Explain the benefits of reflective responses over questions
OARS: Analyze the differences between affirming and praise
OARS: Create effective summaries that consolidate and guide client conversation

MI OARS Playground Agenda

MI Playground Zoom Session 1: Open Ended Questions! Let’s get curious! What we ask matters! Plus, scaling question exploration. We will also explore a MI vs. persuasion via professional demo.
0-15 minutes: Batting Practice Reflections
15-30 minutes: Open vs. Closed question activity
30-60 minutes: Open ended questions, scaling question practice
60-90 minutes: “My Father Also Hit Me” video demo with contrast, and debrief.
MI Playground Zoom Session 2: Affirmations! Let’s play with the differences between cheerleading and affirming as we practice sleuthing for underlying client strengths!
0-15 minutes: Batting Practice Reflections
15-30 minutes: Exploring affirmations v. cheerleading via activity
30-60 minutes: Affirmation activity with standard client scenarios
60-90 minutes: qualities of successful changers strength and affirmation practice
MI Playground Zoom Session 3: Reflections! Reflection practice via “You Mean That” activity. Then, we will complexify reflections via the “In the Moment” activity with client scenarios. View a master reflector in practice via professional demo.
0-15 minutes: Batting Practice Reflections
15-30 minutes: You Mean That reflection activity & debrief
30-60 minutes: Complex reflection practice
60-90 minutes: The Rounder MI video demo and reflection focus
MI Playground Zoom Session 4: Summaries! Sum it up! Practice listening for key elements (change talk!) to include in summaries. View professional demo as we practice identifying client change talk and play with summaries!
0-15 minutes: Batting Practice Reflections
15-30 minutes: Summaries and change talk identification practice
30-90 minutes: Silent Man MI demo and reflection practice activity

View our course syllabus here.

MI OARS Playground Instructor

Hi, I'm Hillary Logan MSW, LCSW, LCAS FOUNDER, MI CONSULTANT & TRAINER

Isn’t MI mostly for addictions?

Nope! Although MI was created in the field of substance abuse treatment, MI is now widely used in disciplines from counseling psychology to dentistry, education to criminal justice, healthcare, case management, coaching… I’ve trained attorneys who work with clients who are victims of interpersonal violence in MI, as well as peer support, law enforcement, HIV case management, life coaches… I could go on and on!

System Requirements, Terms and Conditions

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

View our Syllabus here

See our Refund and Cancellation Policy here.

What if I can’t make the live interactive MI OARS Playround sessions?

We offer weekly Live interactive MI Playground sessions on alternating dates in hopes that you can attend. You must attend one of EACH of the skills sessions. See MI OARS Playground calendar to make sure the live course dates/times work for you.

What if there is a group at my agency that wants to take the training together?

Awesome! That’s a great way to take the course! You can watch videos together, do practice exercises, and support one another to complete the course! Groups are welcome!

Individual Course Access: Each member of the group must sign in the course individually using their own device. This ensures that all participants receive the proper accreditation and learning experience.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

For more information or to register a group, please contact us at admin@micenterforchange.com

Read our Terms and Conditions here.

Will I keep my access to the materials?

You will have access to the 6 modules for 24 weeks starting on your date of purchase. All of the downloadable materials are yours to keep!

Will I learn anything I can use right away? I’ve got a really tough client.

Absolutely. Every module covers MI skills you can begin practicing right away. Even a little MI goes a long way, so as the course progresses, your skills will build and you will experience more success in those change conversations!

Continuing Education Credits

For CE, you must complete the 6 hours of interactive synchronous MI OARS Playground Sessions (all four OARS MI Playground sessions).
We do not provide CE certificate for partial course completion.
Following course completion and completion of End of Course evaluation, participants will receive an email with their downloadable CE certificate within 48 hours.
Does your board not accept CE from any of our continuing education providers listed above? 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.
View our Syllabus here.
Please check with your licensure board if they accept CE from these approved providers. We cannot guarantee CE provision for every licensure board. Please do not email us to ask if your licensure board will accept our CE. If you have questions about whether your board will accept these CE, you may submit the Course Syllabus to your licensure board to inquire. There is a Course Syllabus for each course posted on the web page of each course.
Please email admin@micenterforchange.com if you have any questions or concerns.

How do I recieve access to this course?

After purchasing the course you will receive your login details by email, please check your spam folder.

MI OARS Playground Sessions meet at different times and dates during your 6-month workshop access to accommodate various time zones and schedules! You will have 6 months' access to the Live MI Playground Sessions. This means you will have 12 dates and times for you to pick from during your workshop access to join in the Live MI skills practice and Q&A.

Where will I find my receipt of payment?

Your receipt is sent to the email address that you used to register for the course.

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.

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