Course Description

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a practical, evidence-based collaborative conversation style supporting patient treatment engagement and reducing reluctance around behavior change. This interactive workshop—led by Larisa Traga, LCSW, MAC, CCDS—will introduce participants to the skills, strategies, and processes of MI, and its application with EMDR. Participants will learn how MI can complement and enhance EMDR treatment, with specific focus on 8 phases and 3 prongs to support clients throughout the EMDR process. By implementing MI processes (engaging, focusing, evoking, planning), a clinician can support a client in engaging them when they are anxious about addressing their trauma. MI can help EMDR clinicians enhance client willingness around their goals (i.e., reducing substance use), strengthen motivation when challenges arise, sustain change after an EMDR session, and tailor treatment to the patient’s needs. Finally, the workshop will differentiate between a ‘top down’ vs. ‘bottom up’ approach to reprocessing using EMDR and review additional resources to support individuals with complex PTSD.

Learning Objectives

1. Participants will be able to identify specific Motivational Interviewing strategies and tools for using EMDR with ambivalence, behavior change and complex presentations.
2. Participants will be able to differentiate between a top down and bottom up approach to addressing complex presentations.
3. Participants will be able to identify preparation/resource skills to support complex presentations.

Presenter(s)

Larisa Traga, LCSW, MAC, CCDS

Larisa A. Traga, LCSW, MAC, CCDS, is an Approved Consultant and teaches the EMDRIA- approved EMDR Basic Course through EMDR Consulting, LLC. Trained in EMDR in 2014, she has utilized EMDR with a large population of clients, specializing in clients with Complex PTSD. In the last 3 plus years as a trainer with EMDR Consulting, LLC, she has trained over 600 clinicians in EMDR. In addition, Larisa is a MINT (Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers) Certified Trainer and has been conducting trainings on Evidence Based Practices since 2011 on Motivational Interviewing, NIATx process improvement and the MATRIX model.