For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Contact: Christine Bongiorno
Phone: 781-316-3170
Email: CBongiorno@town.arlington.ma.us

AYHSC Director Earns Motivational Interviewing Certification

ARLINGTON — Health and Human Services Director Christine Bongiorno is pleased to announce that Arlington Youth Health and Safety Coalition Director Karen Koretsky earned a certificate in Intensive Training in Motivational Interviewing at UMASS Medical School’s Center for Integrated Primary Care.

Motivational Interviewing is an evidence-based approach to help support individuals who struggle integrating a health behavior change. It is a particular form of conversation that is patient-centered, collaborative and non-judgmental.

Those who complete the certification can use the powerful and effective skills acquired through the program to help individuals discover their own reasons for making a change.

“Motivational Interviewing honors the fact that most people feel ambivalent about changing a behavior and a trained practitioner can reduce that ambivalence by engaging the patient in what is known as change talk when appropriate,” Koretsky said. “This is an ideal practice to use with teens, who by nature seek autonomy. Motivational Interviewing acknowledges that individuals have to want to move toward change in order to successfully do so. My hope is that I can help youth facilitate healthy behavioral changes. ”

Koretsky’s course completion required more than 90 hours of training and included acting patient encounters, coaching feedback, labs and online courses. She hopes to use her Motivational Interviewing skills when talking to youth in the community about prevention and helping those trying to exit the cycle of risk behavior.

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