Eleison recently led a three-day Motivational Interviewing (MI) training for the International Justice Mission (IJM) Asia Pacific regional team in Bangkok, Thailand, including IJM team members from Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Thailand. Led by Eleison’s Executive Director, Dr. Laura Cordisco Tsai, our MI training supported IJM staff by providing them with tools and strategies for helping survivors take positive steps toward change and growth through a trauma-informed lens.
MI is an evidence-based form of communication that strives to increase a person’s internal motivation for and commitment to change. MI uses a person-centered, non-confrontational style to facilitate a space where individuals feel validated and respected. Research has shown that this empathetic and collaborative approach supports positive behavior change and improves client engagement, retention, and satisfaction with services. MI can be utilized by anyone, regardless of whether or not they have a clinical background.
In 2024, Eleison conducted an introductory MI training for IJM in Cambodia, covering the key concepts of MI. After initial positive feedback, Dr. Cordisco Tsai returned to facilitate a longer three-day training that led staff through a deeper dive into MI. This comprehensive MI training enhanced staff’s skills and focused on exercises and role-plays to help staff apply MI to their day-to-day work. Furthermore, through this MI training, we supported organizational leadership in learning how to systematically integrate MI into organizational practice and staff development.
Upon completion of Eleison’s training, IJM staff members shared positive feedback and that they appreciated the opportunity to attend a second, more in-depth MI training:
“The practical exercises really helped us understand the MI skills! Loved every part of it and also how the training was conducted. This is the second training I’ve attended, and I have learned so much more about MI!”
“(I enjoyed) getting clarification on the theories we learned last year. The role plays helped solidify learning and truly expanded my views on the possibilities of implementing MI.”
Eleison is open to conducting MI trainings for other service providers. Trainings can be provided globally and can be tailored to fit the organization’s needs and priorities. Trainings can be in-person, hybrid, or virtual, and can be 1-day or spread across multiple days. If your organization is interested in receiving MI training, please email info@eleisonfoundation.org or message us here.
