Gary Stofle, LISW-S, LICDC-CS, BCD

The starting point for learning Motivational Interviewing is the two day training, either over zoom or in person.  The training is based off the 4th Edition of MI and other texts.  A combination of lecture, demonstration, dyad and small group practice and videos are used in this training.

Day 1 will include the following:  Spirit, OARS with an emphasis on building a therapeutic relationship and reflective listening.  All participants will be able to practice reflective listening by the end of day 1 and will have a clear understanding of the first two tasks of MI (Engaging and Focusing).

 To be able to practice MI to proficiency, the original T.O.P.P. program had 90 minute coaching sessions biweekly. During these meetings (online or in person), specific skills were reviewed and practiced. Staff would record sessions which were reviewed and coded using the MI Treatment Integrity (MITI) system.  

Gary personifies Motivational Interviewing professionally and personally. I was a nurse with 25 years of experience when I met Gary and attended extensive Motivational Interviewing (MI) training with him. I immediately realized how important the skills I learned from Gary could have been during my entire career as I experienced the magic of empowering our patients instead of instructing them with knowledge they may or may not find important to apply to their health care decisions. I’m so thankful that we decided to pursue the investigation of the use of MI to assist our most vulnerable young mothers in choosing a method to achieve healthy birth spacing. The research results of the T.O.P.P. study are compelling, and Gary’s training was one of the most important components of the T.O.P.P. Research Program. Gary was patient with all of us who came into the training with different years of experience and from different disciplines in health care. He was extremely creative in the way he reinforced the MI skills. As an active member of many MI training groups, Gary is aware of the myriad of ways in which MI is being integrated into new fields and disciplines. I would highly recommend Gary for the MI training portion of the T.O.P.P. Program. Gary’s experience, skill and spirit are the perfect combinations for taking the theoretical concepts of Motivational Interviewing to an empirical application for your implementation of the program. He possesses integrity and respect as he adheres to the fidelity of motivational interviewing. To help people make positive and healthy choices based upon their own life circumstances and reasons is imperative to all of us in the healthcare field and I believe Gary will inspire, inform and equip your associates to do just that. I highly endorse Gary as an incredible human and an expert In Motivational Interviewing training

Robyn Lutz, T.O.P.P. Project Director and Investigator.

 I came to know and learn Motivational Interviewing (MI) as it was the chosen style of communication to be used in my line of work. Gary was the MI trainer and coach to a group of us learning this new, beautiful style of communication. He embodies MI and you can tell by his teaching methods and spirit. He’s incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and kind and most of all you can tell how much he believes in this method of communication. He made me believe in it too. While working with our most vulnerable populations, Gary showed us how to listen more intently and taught us how to help people come up with their own reasons and needs for change by using various MI techniques. I knew nothing of MI before training with Gary, but he made me feel confident and he encouraged me to keep going with it even when I wasn’t sure I was practicing it correctly. I could always count on Gary to help guide me through some of the toughest scenarios and he would do it with grace and ease. I truly appreciate the MI training and education provided by Gary. It has helped me to become a better listener and conversationalist both professionally and personally. 

Angie Taylor, TOPP Nurse.

For those who would like to purchase the TOPP program, please follow the link in the cover or at this link.   Thank you.  Fees for MI trainings are listed in the next section.