For Community Social Services
Building on the foundations of motivational interviewing, this engaging one-hour session takes a deeper dive into how to guide conversations that spark lasting motivation. You’ll learn to recognize and respond to change talk, the client’s own language in favor of change, while also understanding sustain talk and ambivalence, and how each influences motivation.
The session will also introduce advanced skills in motivational interviewing, including using scaling questions, deepening reflective listening, and offering information or advice in a way that respects autonomy and strengthens collaboration. Through practice-oriented exploration, you’ll leave with strategies you can immediately use to make helping conversations more effective, energizing, and impactful.
This is the second in a two-part series on motivational interviewing, though it can also be attended as a stand-alone session.
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Differentiate between change talk, sustain talk, and ambivalence, and explain how each shapes client motivation.
- Apply MI-consistent strategies such as scaling questions and reflective listening to explore and strengthen motivation for change.
- Recognize and respond effectively to change talk, helping clients articulate their own reasons for change.
- Demonstrate collaborative ways of sharing information and advice that support client autonomy, enhance engagement, and avoid resistance.
About the presenter
Suncha Satney is a Registered Clinical Counselor with extensive experience in mental health and workplace wellness. Drawing on her background in Community Social Services as both a frontline worker and wellness educator, she brings a practical, down-to-earth approach to supporting employee wellbeing. Suncha is passionate about equipping people with tools and strategies they can immediately use to manage stress, navigate challenges, and create healthier balance in their work and lives.