I hold a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology, with counseling experience in inpatient, community outpatient, and addiction treatment settings, as well as managing a private practice. In 2001, I discovered my true passion—helping people navigate health behavior change—while working with individuals to quit tobacco. This work sparked my interest in Motivational Interviewing (MI) and its effectiveness in supporting lasting change.
In 2002, I launched my first MI training business, providing Motivational Interviewing and tobacco control training to thousands of providers, including the New Mexico Medical Society, New Mexico Dental Association, American Cancer Society, and Blue Cross/Blue Shield.
By 2008, I moved into my first full-time MI role with a disease management company, where I developed, implemented, and evaluated live and virtual MI training for more than 75 clinical and non-clinical staff as part of a company-wide MI adoption. That same year, I became a MINT-certified trainer.
In 2015, I began my second full-time MI position with Arizona Complete Health (formerly Cenpatico Integrated Care), facilitating over 300 MI training sessions for thousands of professionals across behavioral health, physical health, criminal justice, oral health, addiction treatment, and leadership sectors. I also developed MI Coding and Self-Assessment tools and provided on-the-job MI coaching in diverse settings, from behavioral health centers to methadone clinics.
Since 2018, I have owned and operated Motivational Interviewing Learning Exchange, working full-time as an MI trainer, consultant, and coach.
Learn more at: www.linkedin.com/in/marybdillon
My passion and mission are to support people working in the helping professions. My Motivational Interviewing trainings are built on the very principles of MI—interactive, strengths-based, and collaborative—so participants learn by doing, connecting, and sharing insights with peers. This means participants learn by exploring, practicing, and building on their own strengths, rather than just being told what to do. Sessions are interactive, collaborative, and filled with peer-to-peer learning—often leading to those exciting “aha” moments we all remember. And yes… we have a lot of fun along the way!
