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UdemyCareer DevelopmentPaid courseBeginner levelCertificate

Introduction to Motivational Interviewing (Fully Accredited) (Udemy.com)

A Comprehensive Overview for Professionals and the General Public

Created by: Kevin O'Doherty

Last updated May 2026

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What you will learn

  • What is Motivational Interviewing?
  • What is behaviour change and how does it happen?
  • How can we help people overcome barriers to change?
  • What Motivational Interviewing strategies are and how can we use them?
  • How do we help people maintain constructive behaviour change?
  • How can we help people to deal with relapse?
  • What is relapse and why does it happen?

How it compares

Against the other 115 rated Udemy courses in Career Development on CourseDuck:

  • Rating4.5 out of 5higher than 52% of them
  • Reviews1,612#14 of 116 by number of reviews
  • Length2.2 hourslonger than 50% of them
  • Last updatedMay 2026more recently than 79% of them

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Course Description

Ongoing Professional Development: This course provides the knowledge and skills to improve performance in this area, offering 10 hours of valuable learning and professional development, as evidenced on the certificate issued upon completion.

Live Streamed Availability: This course and a range of other related courses can be delivered to groups of between 6 and 25 people via Live Streaming with Zoom. Contact Kevin O’Doherty for more details on pricing and availability etc.

This fully accredited course, endorsed by the International Association of Therapists (IAOTH), offers a comprehensive introduction to Motivational Interviewing (MI)—a powerful set of tools and techniques designed to help individuals overcome barriers, make lasting changes, and achieve their personal or professional goals. Upon successful completion, you will receive an official certificate that acknowledges your mastery of the skills taught in the course.

The course is structured with a variety of engaging lectures, handouts, and numerous resources to support your learning and solidify your understanding of MI. It is designed to be highly interactive, enjoyable, and motivational—ensuring that you not only grasp the theory but also gain practical skills that you can apply in real-world scenarios. Whether you’re a professional looking to use Motivational Interviewing with your clients or someone seeking to overcome your own barriers to change, this course will equip you with the techniques to succeed.

In this course, we cover key aspects of Motivational Interviewing, including:

  • The Core Principles and Techniques of MI: You’ll learn about the foundational tools and strategies used in MI to help individuals explore their motivations, resolve ambivalence, and work towards meaningful change.

  • Overcoming Unhelpful Assumptions: A particularly valuable aspect of the course is the exploration of common, yet unhelpful assumptions that often hinder change and goal achievement. These include:

    1. The assumption that people ought to change their behavior.

    2. The assumption that people want to change their behavior.

    3. The assumption that health is the person's primary motivator.

    4. The assumption that the intervention has failed if the person doesn't choose to change.

    5. The assumption that people are either motivated to change or they are not.

    6. The assumption that now is always the right time to change.

    7. The assumption that a tough approach is the best approach.

    By identifying and challenging these assumptions, you will learn how to create a more supportive, empathetic environment that facilitates change.

  • Applying MI in Various Settings: Motivational Interviewing is a flexible tool that can be used not only in clinical or counseling settings but also during staff development meetings and in corporate environments. The course demonstrates how MI can help individuals achieve their best performance, ultimately contributing to greater company success.

This course is suitable for a wide range of learners. It’s ideal for those working in helping professions, such as counselors, therapists, coaches, and healthcare providers, as well as managers or leaders looking to use MI techniques to motivate their teams and foster personal and organizational growth. It’s also beneficial for individuals who wish to improve their own ability to overcome personal obstacles and reach their own goals.

The course is taught by Kevin O'Doherty, a Psychologist, Forensic Mental Health Expert Witness, and CBT Therapist with over 20 years of experience in the mental health and therapeutic fields. With his extensive background, Kevin brings a wealth of practical knowledge and firsthand experience to the course. His teaching style is engaging, approachable, and informative, ensuring that students not only learn the theory behind MI but also gain the confidence to apply it in their work and everyday lives.

Additionally, this course is available in both live streaming and face-to-face formats upon request. Whether you’re an individual looking for personal development or part of an organization seeking to improve your team’s performance, the course can be tailored to meet your needs. You are also encouraged to get in touch with Kevin for further support or inquiries.

Kevin also offers a wide range of other courses on topics related to mental health, CBT, and behavioral science. Don’t forget to explore his other offerings, available online through Udemy, to continue expanding your knowledge and skills.

By the end of this course, you will have a thorough understanding of Motivational Interviewing and how to effectively apply its principles to support both yourself and others in overcoming challenges and achieving meaningful goals.

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Instructor Details

Kevin O'Doherty

I am an experienced Psychologist, Forensic Mental Health Expert, and CBT Therapist with extensive experience in both clinical practice and forensic mental health. My work spans individual therapy, complex medico-legal assessments, and psychological autopsies, contributing to both UK and international settings.

As an author of self-help books, I aim to empower individuals with practical, evidence-based strategies to overcome mental health challenges. I’ve taught intermediate and advanced psychology at prestigious institutions in London and Andalusia, Spain, shaping my approach to online course development to ensure accessible, enriching learning experiences. My courses, offered through Udemy since 2010, are IAOTH-accredited and have benefited over 14,000 students worldwide.

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Reviews

4.5

1,612 ratings on Udemy

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By Harriet Schravesande on 9/9/2026

Such a lovely style of presentation, introducing practical examples and making the learning experience calm and promoting curiosity. Thank you, I am looking forward to the advanced course

By Matt Hanlon on 6/29/2026

As others have said, there are a lot of filler words, but the content is generally good. It's a bit disappointing, that, like the advanced course, one whole lesson is just a NotebookLM-generated podcast about an article.

By Kelley Voy on 2/7/2026

It took me a while to get through the course because I had a difficult time staying engaged. I think I have difficulty focusing when the speaker repetitively uses filler words. I tend to hyperfixate on that. I appreciate the knowledge gained and the expertise of the speaker.

By Perry Maddox Sr on 11/17/2025

Taking this course has made me realize the stage of contemplation and some of the ways you can aid in that stage and assist client in becoming more comfortable in contemplating self-sufficiency doing so.

By Elizabeth Miller on 9/4/2023

Oh honestly, it goes against every grain in my body to find fault with such a likable person as Kevin, and his class far surpassed what I learned in my SUD counseling course. The only fault was Kevin's overbearing use of "OK?". He seems to be using it unconsciously, similar to how writing a period at the end of a sentence just happens naturally. His OKs are just affirming the validity of what he just said, but I found it highly distracting, and would often have to play the segment over, because I had been wondering how soon another OK would slide in, instead of listening. It could very well be my ADD at play here. So I don't want to discourage anyone from learning very important information presented in such a logical, sequential, and easy-to-understand way. This course was highly worthwhile content-wise.

By Siseley Arroyo on 8/30/2023

Yes, this course was a good match for me. The techniques used to evoke a response rather provoke a response was a new concept for me. Evoking tends to allow for a conversation to flow between individuals instead of one individual controlling the narrative.

By Victor Ross on 7/14/2023

Excellent presentation and loads of information I will use in my psychotherapy practice. Only negative is technical. I listened to this course with headphones and found I had to listen to the musical introduction at a blaring volume in order to hearing the speaker in A normal voice. Very irritating.

By Keith Foisy on 4/6/2023

This is a rather exceptional introduction to motivational interviewing. The lessons are incredibly concise and useful. The information is practical and somehow manages to avoid lengthy and wordy explanations. Very well done and practical.

By Carmen Gutierrez on 3/25/2023

Very thorough explanation wtih examples and ideas of intro questions to use during an interview and helpful charts. Like the several short videos instead short long ones. If charts could have been printed, it would have been better. The background was boring. Overall good.

By Irene A. Castillo on 12/28/2022

I am so grateful that I have completed this course delivered by Mr. Kevin O’Doherty. It has deepened my understanding of the factors affecting the accrual process of change. It has helped me have a more profound appreciation of how we can provide compassionate and empowering support to those who would like to work toward positive changes in their life.

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Overall Score : 90 / 100