MIA:STEP

Motivational Interviewing Assessment: Supervisory Tools for Enhancing Proficiency (MIA:STEP)

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Findings form the National Institute on Drug Abuse's Clinical Trials Network protocol documented that one Motivational Interviewing (MI) assessment interview resulted in higher retention rates during the first four MIA:STEP Brochure Coverweeks of treatment when compared to assessments as usual.The MIA:STEP Blending Team designed empirically supported mentoring products to enhance the MI skills of treatment providers, as well as supervisory tools to fortify a supervisor's ability to provide structured, focused, and effective clinical supervision. MIA:STEP introduces an effective strategy for observation-based clinical supervision, the use of which has potential to improve counselor skills beyond MI

The MIA:STEP training exceeded my expectations. The richness of information presented and valuable practicality made it worth the two days. It really motivated me to help implement the positive changes this training helped me identify.

Aaron K. Potratz, MA CADC I, CODA Inc

Buprenorphine Treatment Blending Team Members

NIDA/ NDAT CTN

  • Samuel Ball, Ph.D. - Yale University School of Medicine
  • John Hamilton, LMFT - LMG Programs Community Treatment Program
  • Steven Martino, Ph.D. - Yale University School of Medicine

SAMHSA/CSAT-ATTC

  • Steven L. Gallon, Ph.D. - Northwest Frontier ATTC (Chair)
  • Sherry Ceperich, Ph.D. - Mid-Atlantic ATTC
  • Maria del Mar Garcia, MSW, MHS - Caribbean Basin & Hispanic ATTC
  • Denise Pyle, LPC, NCC - Mid-Atlantic ATTC
  • Edna Quinones, Ph.D. - Caribbean Basin & Hispanic ATTC

MI Assessment Protocol

The protocol was developed and tested in five community treatment programs across the country. The Motivational Interviewing Assessment study was designed as an intervention that all outpatient community treatment providers could undertake.

The use of MI has been shown to increase: Client treatment attendance, and Retention of clients during the first month of treatment

Articles of Interest

Motivational interviewing to improve treatment engagement and outcome in individuals seeking treatment for substance abuse: A multisite effectiveness study
Carroll et al., Drug Alcohol Depend. 2006 February 28; 81(3): 301-312

A Step Forward in Teaching Addiction Counselors How to Supervise Motivational Interviewing Using a Clinical Trials Training Approach
Martino, S. et al., Journal of Teaching in the Addictions 2008; 6(2):39-67

Why is this study important?

  • It showed that MI skills can be taught and used at a high level when using recorded sessions, interview coding, and clinical supervision.
  • Clients who received one session of MI were more likely to be in treatment 4 weeks later and to have attended more sessions than clients who received regular assessments.
  • Three-quarters of study participants followed up through 12 weeks; 77% at 1 month; and 75% at 3 months (range 66% - 84%).