CRMGTPV X009 - Listening for Life: Motivational Interviewing for Suicide Crisis Support
This training provides helpline workers with foundational skills in Motivational Interviewing (MI) to support individuals experiencing suicidal ideation. Participants will explore how MI principles can be applied to foster hope, strengthen a person's intrinsic motivation for change and navigate ambivalence about living. Through a mix of didactic instruction, role-plays and practical exercises, the training helps attendees build confidence in using MI techniques to engage callers effectively, honor their autonomy and guide them toward life-affirming decisions.
Delivery Options
This training is constructed as a non-interactive, video-based asynchronous distance learning training.
Time to Completion
Total Asynchronous Time is approximately 3 hours.
Training Completion Requirements
- Participants must submit a pre-training survey, complete all coursework requirements, and pass the training post-test with a score of at least 80%. Unlimited attempts are allowed.
- The post-training evaluation survey will be immediately available once the required coursework and post-test are finished, and the evaluation must be completed to receive CE credit.
Technology Requirements
- Reliable internet connection
- Modern web browser (Google Chrome or Firefox recommended)
What You'll Learn
After completing this training, participants will be able to...
- Describe the core principles of Motivational Interviewing and explain their relevance to suicide prevention conversations.
- Identify and respond to "change talk" and "sustain talk" in the context of ambivalence about living.
- Demonstrate key MI skills, including open-ended questions, affirmations, reflections, and summarizations (OARS) to engage callers struggling with suicidal ideation in a compassionate and supportive manner.
What You'll Earn
This training is approved for 3 CE clock hours for counselors, social workers, and marriage and family therapists, as well as prevention professionals in domain PR1 - prevention field related (renewals only) and substance use counselors in domain TR1 - treatment field related (renewals only) in the state of Ohio.
Additional Information
Development Date: February 2025
Target Audience: 988 crisis call line staff and other human services professionals
Content Level: Beginner
Training Outline
- Discuss relevance of MI for suicide work
- Overview of MI principles
- Introduction to core MI principles (OARs, spirit of MI)
- Emphasis on collaboration, autonomy and evoking hope
- Understanding change talk in suicide work
- Define “change talk” and its importance
- Recognize sustain talk vs. Change talk with examples in crisis settings
- Practical skills: Using MI strategies
- Practice using open-ended questions, affirmations, reflections and summaries (OARS) with suicidal callers
- Roleplays with brief feedback
- Handling ambivalence and evoking hope
- Strategies for addressing ambivalence about life
- How to evoke hope and strengths during a crisis call
- Case scenario practice
Presenter
Jimmy Portner, LISW-S, LICDC-CS
Community Lecturer, The Ohio State University College of Social Work
Jimmy Portner, LISW-S, LICDC-CS, has been a social worker in mental health and substance use for 20 years, focusing on advancing evidence-based practices. He is accomplished in Motivational Interviewing (MI), clinical settings, teaching and research, bringing over a decade of leadership experience in the national MI VA program. A member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers, Portner has extensive expertise in the core components of MI, fidelity assessment and effective delivery methods. Portner is also a certified trainer and provider of Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy (RO-DBT), a treatment targeting emotional overcontrol. Since 2014, he has practiced and taught RO-DBT, specializing in its application to complex, treatment-resistant cases. For over a decade, Portner has been a community lecturer at The Ohio State University College of Social Work. His professional interests include the intersection of culture and mental health, social signaling and innovative approaches to challenging conditions. Outside of work, Portner enjoys time with his wife, a fellow social worker, and their two children. He is dedicated to fostering connection and understanding, balancing leadership and mentoring with his passion for supporting the next generation of social workers.
Continuing Education Approvals
The Ohio State University College of Social Work provides approvals for continuing education for counselors, social workers, and marriage and family therapists that are accepted by the state of Ohio Counselor, Social Work, and Marriage and Family Therapist (CSWMFT) Board.
The Ohio State University College of Social Work has been approved by the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals (CDP) Board as a provider of Continuing Education, approval number: 50-24068.
Certificates & CE Reporting
CE certificates will be available for download in your learner portal within 1 business day after submitting the evaluation survey.
Hours for those with Ohio licenses that are submitted with the evaluation survey will be reported to CE Broker every 14 days (twice per month).
⚠️ Note: You may only complete this training once for CE credit. You may revisit the content, but only one certificate will be issued and credit will only be reported to CE Broker one time.
Cancellations, Refunds, Grievances, Accessibility Requests & Learning
Please visit the Policies section of our website for more information on our processes for cancellations, refunds, grievances, training completions & certificates, participant conduct, and accessibility requests and learning accommodations.
We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. If you require an accommodation to participate in this training, please contact CSW Accessibility as early as possible and in advance of the training start date by email at csw-accessibility@osu.edu or call 614-688-1657. Requests received at least 14-days prior to the date you plan to begin a training will generally allow us to provide seamless access, but the College will make every effort to meet requests that we receive regardless of lead time.
Contact Us
For questions about the enrollment process, payment options, technology, or training records, please submit an inquiry and our Enrollment Support team will assist you within 24 hours during business days.
If you have any questions, concerns or feedback about the training content or delivery format, please contact the CSW Office of Continuing Education at cswce@osu.edu. For questions related to the training content, our office will facilitate communication with the training instructor on your behalf and connect you, if applicable. Presenter contact information will be provided within the training for questions, feedback, or comments.
The Ohio State University, College of Social Work, Office of Continuing Education, 302 Stillman Hall, 1947 College Road, Columbus, OH, 43210.
Phone: (614) 292-3032
Email: cswce@osu.edu
Website: csw.osu.edu/continuing-education/