Motivational Interviewing (MI) & Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) Integration: A Synergistic Approach to Clinical Practice

Clinical Practice Virtual Workshop

September 3, 10, & 17, 2025 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Trainer: Kristin Dempsey, EdD, LMFT, LPCC

Imagine combining the power of two of the most rigorously researched, evidence-based practices—Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)—to enhance client engagement, reduce ambivalence, and foster a stronger belief in one’s capacity to create a meaningful life. Both MI and DBT offer robust frameworks for addressing some of the most complex developmental and behavioral challenges, including substance use disorders, personality disorders, eating disorders, and trauma-related conditions. 

While each approach has its own unique strengths, there is a natural synergy between MI and DBT that makes them highly complementary. MI excels at enhancing intrinsic motivation and resolving ambivalence, making it an ideal tool for initiating change. DBT, on the other hand, offers a structured, skills-based model for managing emotions, tolerating distress, and improving interpersonal effectiveness—critical capacities for sustaining long-term recovery and growth. 

In this experiential workshop, we will explore the intersections and distinctions between these two models. You will learn how to determine when to apply each approach and how to strategically blend them to maximize their effectiveness. We will discuss ways to infuse motivational strategies into DBT interventions, and how to incorporate dialectical thinking and behavioral skills into motivational conversations. 

Whether you're new to MI or DBT or looking to deepen your practice, this training will provide practical tools and clinical insights to help you flexibly integrate both models into your everyday work. Join us to build your confidence, expand your toolkit, and enhance the impact you have on the clients you serve. 

The participants will learn to:

1. Distinguish which approach: motivational interviewing or DBT to use at each stage of change for each client concern when treating clients with complex developmental and behavioral disorders.

2. Identify the dialectical components of motivational interviewing and determine when and how to use “double-sided” responses to further build dialectical awareness and momentum among clients in early stages of change. 

3. Apply the four motivational microskills when facilitating a DBT skills individual and group training session for clients enrolled in DBT treatment. 

 4. Determine when to offer DBT skills when engaging clients in conversations about change early in treatment.