Group motivational interviewing is a guided therapeutic approach that helps people think about their motivations for behavior and their commitment to change. It is an excellent fit for adolescents, because it engages them about their personal experiences while eliciting ideas about how they can change and make healthy choices.
The Rand Corporation have launched groupmiforteens.org, a unique website that provides free training to anyone interested in learning how to use this powerful tool to help adolescents in a group setting. The website highlights two interventions:
- CHOICE, a voluntary, five-session prevention and intervention program for middle school youth
- Free Talk, a six-session intervention for at-risk youth, ages 14-18, with a first-time alcohol or drug offense.
Groupmiforteens.org features manuals for both CHOICE and Free Talk, as well as several helpful training videos that demonstrate how to use MI to engage teens in a group setting. These videos demonstrate how to facilitate the programs with both younger teens, and with older, more at-risk youth.
Population of focus: Adolescents
Links to resource:
- Website: GroupMIForTeens.org
- Website: Choice
- Website: Free Talk
- Summary of the program on the Children’s Mental Health Network website
Date: 2013
Organization: Rand Corporation