NCPIC is very pleased to have hosted the only Sydney presentation by Dr. William (Bill) Miller, Emeritus Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of New Mexico and co-author of ‘Motivational Interviewing – preparing people for change’. The seminar was held on thursday, July 17 from 4.00 - 5.00pm.

Professor Miller told the story of how motivational interviewing arose, quite by accident and happenstance, and the promises and problems that have emerged with its widespread diffusion.Motivational interviewing has disseminated rapidly through a wide range of nations, primarily by word of mouth, substantially changing the field of addiction treatment.  From there it spread into health care more generally, health promotion, probation and corrections, and the treatment of psychological problems.  The fundamental problem that it addresses is a common one -- when a person needs to make a change in behavior or lifestyle, but has not done so.  What is it about this simple (but not easy) counseling method that prompted such widespread diffusion?