Christopher Dunn, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine
Dr. Dunn has devoted his career to Motivational Interviewing methods to change behavior. As a counseling psychologist in the University of Washington School of Medicine, he specializes in teaching mental health, substance abuse, and medical providers to apply MI to help their patients make healthy lifestyle behavior changes. His book, A Rapid Reference Guide to Lifestyle and Behavior Change: A Guide for Practitioners, was published by Elsevier in 2003. Dr. Dunn is a member of the International Association of Motivational Interviewing Trainers. He was one of three co-trainers for the 2002 world conference for training new MI trainers in Hawaii.
Dr. Dunn is currently funded by NIDA, NIH, and SAMHSA to study the effectiveness of MI behavior change interventions and how best to train practitioners to do this. He trains students, residents, and physicians to implement interventions with trauma patients, as well as conducts seminars for psychiatry residents, diabetes providers, family and internal medicine residents, and physician assistant students. He has practiced MI at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for 15 years. Dr. Dunn's teaching and clinical practice has focused on intervening with trauma patients who have substance abuse issues as they present in an emergency department setting. He has personally performed MI interventions for injury and alcohol with over 4500 trauma patients. In a randomized trial, this one-session intervention resulted in reductions in drinking one year later and a 47% reduction in re-injury within three years following the initial trauma.
Dr. Dunn is a member of the American Psychological Association and the International Association of Motivational Interviewing Traininers. He received his masters and doctoral degrees in counseling from the University of Florida and was the Grinter Research Fellow in 1993.
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Eddie Edmondson, LICSW
Manager, CHAMMP Training Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine
Mr. Edmondson combines a broad clinical background with strong training skills. He is currently the Manager of the CHAMMP Training Institute, working directly with researchers/clinicians to plan, develop, and implement various skills-based trainings. Mr. Edmondson has used Motivational Interviewing in his clinical practice in several different settings - research studies, psychotherapy, and case management. He has been a co-trainer for Motivational Interviewing: Quick and Effective Tools for Clinicians since 2010. He researched, developed, and implemented MI-based HIV prevention interventions for projects at the University of Washington School of Social Work and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. He has also taken research project materials and distilled them into easily understood training materials for several projects, including PEARLS, Coordinated Anxiety Learning and Management (CALM) and TEAMcare. Mr. Edmondson has over 19 years of clinical experience as a trainer/presenter, psychotherapist, case manager, program interventionist, and supervisor. He has worked in community mental health, research and community-based social service settings, while also maintaining a private practice. Mr. Edmondson was part of the clinical team that developed relationship workshops for gay and lesbian couples at The Gottman Institute, as well as being a workshop co-presenter. He has been giving trainings and clinical presentations since 1994.
Grin Geiss Trusz, BA, PsyD Student
Research Study Coordinator Lead, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine
Ms. Geiss Trusz is pursuing a clinical psychology doctorate while also working in research. She began training with Dr. Dunn in 2007, as an interventionist with clients having PTSD and substance abuse problems. She has been a standardized patient in over 200 sessions to train MI providers, and has assisted in the development of online training curricula and training tools for use in primary care settings.
Mary O'Leary, PhD
Psychologist, Private Practice; Adjunct Faculty, Anioch University, Seattle WA
Dr. O'Leary began her training in Motivational Interviewing during her PhD dissertation 10 years ago and has been a trainer in MI in the Seattle area for more than 3 years. She teaches adult psychotherapy and couples therapy in the doctoral program at Antioch University Seattle. She also has a private practice in Seattle as a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, is a consultant for two research institutes at the University of Washington, and contracts with agencies to provide psychological evaluations.