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Free Talk Group Motivational Interviewing (MI) for Teens

Topic Areas
Scientific Rating
Child Welfare Relevance
Substance Abuse Treatment (Adolescent)
NR  — Not able to be Rated
Medium

About This Program

Target Population: Adolescents ages 14-18 who had had a first-time alcohol or drug-related offense; can also be provided to teens in this age group who may be at risk for alcohol or other drug use in other settings

For children/adolescents ages: 14 – 18

Program Overview

Free Talk Group Motivational Interviewing (MI) for Teens is a group-based intervention program that addresses substance use and ways to increase protective factors. Free Talk was developed for teens ages 14-18 who have had a first-time alcohol or drug offense (6 sessions). It is comprised of six sessions. It can be provided to teens in this age group who are may be at risk for alcohol or other drug use in other settings.

The groups use MI as the counseling method. MI is a client-centered, directive communication method designed to enhance motivation for change. Counselors use specific skills to explore and increase clients’ intrinsic motivation regarding healthy behaviors. Free Talk prioritizes respectful interactions and client autonomy and decision-making. The program balances the more complicated interpersonal dynamics of the group process alongside the individual experiences and needs of the participants.

Two other versions of Group Motivational Interviewing (MI) for Teens are also highlighted on the CEBC at CHOICE Group MI for Teens and MICUNAY Group MI for Teens.

Program Goals

The goals of Free Talk Group Motivational Interviewing (MI) for Teens are:

  • Learn about healthy choices particularly regarding alcohol and other drug use
  • Understand how alcohol and other drug use may affect communication
  • Enhance internal motivation to change
  • Reinforce this motivation
  • Practice how to address high-risk situations where alcohol or drugs may be present
  • Develop a plan to achieve change if they are ready

Logic Model

The program representative did not provide information about a Logic Model for Free Talk Group Motivational Interviewing (MI) for Teens.

Essential Components

The essential components of Free Talk Group Motivational Interviewing (MI) for Teens include:

  • All groups are facilitated by using Motivational Interviewing (MI) [note: the CEBC has only rated the use of individual Motivational Interviewing (MI) with adults]. This includes both the spirit of MI as well as the skills of MI, covered below:
    • Approaching teens with the spirit of MI:
      • Partnership
      • Acceptance
      • Compassion
      • Empowerment
  • Use of specific skills of MI including:
    • Open-ended questions
    • Reflective listening statements
    • Affirmations
    • Summaries
    • A focus on the Four Tasks in an MI interview:
      • Engaging
      • Focusing
      • Evoking
      • Planning
  • A unique aspect of MI is the highlighting and evoking of client change talk or discussion regarding desires, abilities, reasons, and need for change—from the clients’ perspectives.
  • In using MI, information is provided after first exploring clients’ own knowledge and thoughts regarding a specific topic. Permission is obtained to provide other information if needed followed by evoking clients’ responses to the information.
  • Group sessions provide information using the above model regarding:
    • Normative alcohol and other drug use for the age group
    • Alcohol and drug use effects
    • How to make healthy choices
    • Dealing with peer influences
    • How to plan for high-risk situations
    • How alcohol and other drug use affects:
      • Communication
      • The brain
      • Engagement in other high-risk behavior such as unprotected sex
  • A manual along with handouts are provided for the Free Talk group sessions that cover the topic under discussion.
  • Training videos are also included.

Program Delivery

Child/Adolescent Services

Free Talk Group Motivational Interviewing (MI) for Teens directly provides services to children/adolescents and addresses the following:

  • Alcohol or other drug use
  • Involvement in risky situations regarding alcohol or drug use
  • Risk for juvenile justice system involvement
  • Risk for school disruption

Recommended Intensity:

55-minute weekly group sessions

Recommended Duration:

6 weeks if sessions are conducted weekly. More than one session can be conducted in a week to shorten the length of the program.

Delivery Settings

This program is typically conducted in a(n):

  • Community-based Agency / Organization / Provider
  • School Setting (Including: Day Care, Day Treatment Programs, etc.)

Homework

This program does not include a homework component.

Resources Needed to Run Program

The typical resources for implementing the program are:

A room to conduct the session and handouts reproduced

Manuals and Training

Prerequisite/Minimum Provider Qualifications

There are no minimal educational requirements to be trained in MI. The Free Talk Group MI for Teens is led by facilitators at all levels of education.

However, it is suggested that group leaders obtain additional training in MI before attending the training for this program. General MI training can be found at https://motivationalinterviewing.org./motivational-interviewing-training

Manual Information

There is a manual that describes how to deliver this program.

Program Manual(s)

Manual details:

The manual is accessible at www.groupmiforteens.org after registration.

Training Information

There is training available for this program.

Training Contact:
Training Type/Location:

It is suggested that group leaders obtain additional training in MI before leading a group. General MI training can be found at https://motivationalinterviewing.org./motivational-interviewing-training.

Free Talk Group MI training is via video and can be obtained from groupmiforteens.org after registering and answering questions regarding professional background and knowledge of MI.

Number of days/hours:

Seven training videos regarding MI and examples of how to implement the Free Talk program are available and range from approximately 10 to 30 minutes. Continuing education credits are also available after completion of videos and quizzes. Also included is the group content as well as handouts and manuals.

Fidelity and implementation information are also available in the program manual.

Relevant Published, Peer-Reviewed Research

D’Amico, E. J., Hunter, S. B., Miles, J. N. V., Ewing, B. A., & Osilla, K. C. (2013). A randomized controlled trial of a group motivational interviewing intervention for adolescents with a first time alcohol or drug offense. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 45(5), 400–408. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2013.06.005

Type of Study: Randomized controlled trial
Number of Participants: 193

Population:

  • Age — 14–18 years
  • Race/Ethnicity — 45% Hispanic, 45% White Non-Hispanic, and 10% Mixed and Other
  • Gender — 67% Male
  • Status — Participants were teenagers aged 14–18 referred to Teen Court for a first-time alcohol or marijuana offense.

Location/Institution: Santa Barbara, California

Summary: (To include basic study design, measures, results, and notable limitations)
The purpose of the study was to examine client acceptance, intervention feasibility, and outcomes of Free Talk Group Motivational Interviewing (Free Talk Group MI). Participants were randomized to receive either Free Talk Group MI or a usual care control group consisting of six sessions following an abstinence-based Alcoholics Anonymous approach. Measures utilized include the Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity Scale (MITI), Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), probation records from the Santa Barbara County probation, a survey from RAND Adolescent/Young Adult Panel Study, and study-developed surveys. Results indicate that Free Talk Group MI teens reported higher quality and satisfaction ratings, and MI integrity scores on the MITI were higher for Free Talk Group MI groups. Alcohol or drug use and delinquency decreased for both groups at 3 months, and 12-month recidivism rates were lower but not significantly different for the Free Talk Group MI group compared to usual care. Limitations include a small sample size, lack of a nontreatment control group, and concerns over bias due to the use of self-report measures.

Length of controlled postintervention follow-up: 3 months.

The following studies were not included in rating Free Talk Group Motivational Interviewing (MI) for Teens on the Scientific Rating Scale...

D’Amico, E. J., Houck, J. M., Hunter, S. B., Miles, J. N. V., Osilla, K. C., & Ewing, B. A. (2015). Group motivational interviewing for adolescents: Change talk and alcohol and marijuana outcomes. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 83(1), 68–80. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0038155

The purpose of the study was to describe the group process in adolescent group motivational interviewing (MI) and effects of group-level change talk on individual alcohol and marijuana outcomes. Participants in the original study were randomized to receive either Free Talk Group Motivational Interviewing (Free Talk Group MI) or a usual care control group; this paper only examined Free Talk Group MI. Measures utilized include the RAND Project ALERT 1990 survey, University of Rhode Island Change Assessment Scale (URICA), Cognitive Appraisal of Risky Events Questionnaire (CARE), measures from the RAND Adolescent/Young Adult Panel Study, questions from the DSM-IV regarding alcohol and marijuana use, and Motivational Interviewing Skill Code (MISC; Version 2.5). Results indicate that facilitator open-ended questions and reflections of change talk increased group change talk. Group change talk was then followed by more change talk. Multilevel models accounting for rolling group enrollment revealed group change talk was associated with decreased alcohol intentions, alcohol use, and heavy drinking 3 months later; group sustain talk was associated with decreased motivation to change, increased intentions to use marijuana, and increased positive alcohol and marijuana expectancies. Limitations include a small sample size, concerns over generalizability due to race, the study used a subset from the original sample, and lack of analyses on the usual care group. Note: This article was not used in the rating process due to the lack of a control group results.

Additional References

D'Amico, E. J., Osilla, K. C., & Hunter, S. B. (2010). Developing a group motivational interviewing intervention for adolescents at-risk for developing an alcohol or drug use disorder. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, 28, 417–436. https://doi.org/10.1080/07347324.2010.511076

Contact Information

Elizabeth D’Amico, PhD
Agency/Affiliation: RAND Corporation
Department: Social and Economic Well Being
Website: groupmiforteens.org/programs/freetalk
Email:

Date Research Evidence Last Reviewed by CEBC: April 2024

Date Program Content Last Reviewed by Program Staff: September 2024

Date Program Originally Loaded onto CEBC: September 2024