Austin Portch, MA, LMHC, MHP, NCC
“It’s such a uniquely special gift to positively contribute to someone else’s growth journey. I’ve always felt a great sense of purpose by working in the helping profession – first as a mental health counselor and then as a supervisor for other practitioners. My goal in this profession has always been to add value to someone else’s experience and help them live the lives they want to live. Motivational Interviewing has served as a foundation for me and has guided my process since I was first introduced to it back in 2018. MI has helped me gain clarity on my own values and has deeply influenced my work in this field. I am beyond lucky that I have the opportunity to continue exploring the world of MI and support others in their learning process here at IFIOC”.
Austin has 8 years of experience working in the behavioral health field. After receiving his Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Gonzaga University, he served as a mental health clinician at a large community behavioral health agency before transitioning into a role as a supervisor, where he provided supervision to professionals working with high risk youth and their families in the community.
After Austin was introduced to Motivational Interviewing in 2018, it became the foundation for his clinical practice with his clients. In 2024, Austin’s MI journey led to him submitting recorded sessions for coding using the Motivational Interviewing Competency Assessment (MICA). This helped him gain valuable feedback on his MI skillset and knowledge, which ultimately led to him becoming a trainer for Motivational Interviewing within the agency. Austin continued diving into the world of MI by seeking training on how to administer the MICA coding tool and offer coaching feedback to others seeking to improve their skillset.
Austin was invited to attend the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) Training of New Trainers (TNT), marking an important milestone in his pursuit for growth as a practitioner and trainer.
Austin has been involved in and provided Motivational Interviewing training to professionals and organizations in:
• Healthcare
• Mental health
• Corrections/Prisons
• Law enforcement
• Family services
• Child welfare
Want to have an MI-based conversation? Book a session with Austin through our MI based clinic, Ascent Mental Fitness.
