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Human Services Network of Colorado

Upcoming events

    • 12/09/2024
    • 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
    • Zoom webinar
    • 43
    Register

    Inspired by his over 20 years working with the trauma-informed care paradigm which resulted in his acclaimed books, Matt Bennett is excited to partner with The Network to present Connecting Paradigms: Positioning Trauma-Informed Care, Motivational Interviewing & other Best Practices for Improved Client Outcomes. Harm reduction, Motivational Interviewing (MI), trauma-informed care, and other best practices provide tools and approaches that assist us in helping those we serve. While these paradigms increased capacity to meet the ever-changing needs of clients, less attention has been paid to bringing these together in a coherent model designed to improve quality and client outcomes.

    This reality led Matt to write Connecting Paradigms: A trauma-informed & neurobiological framework for Motivational Interviewing Implementation (2017) and, the follow-ups, Talking about Trauma & Change (2018), Heart Rate Variability: Using biometrics to improve outcomes in trauma-informed organizations (2020). Together, these books provide an innovative approach to helping those struggling with past trauma to make critical life changes and heal from trauma. Connecting Paradigms presents an integrated model, combining research in neurobiology, trauma, behavioral change, harm reduction, and Motivational Interviewing into a practical skillset easily implemented across a variety of settings and professional backgrounds.

    This workshop introduces the core concepts presented in the books in a practical way that allows for immediate implementation. A quick-paced and dynamic training, participants learn MI skills in the context of trauma-informed care, harm reduction, and the Spirit of MI. Many of our clients face critical changes if they are to reach the health outcomes we hope for them. The training gives providers the approaches needed to maximize their time and work with clients.

    Learning Objectives

    1. Understand how trauma, neurobiology, and epigenetics inform interventions and communications.
    2. Apply the Connecting Paradigms model for client interventions and program development.
    3. Utilize harm reduction, stages of change, mindfulness, Motivational Interviewing, and other best practices together to improve outcomes.
    4. Conceptualize what developments in neurobiology and epigenetics tell us about healing from trauma and behavioral change.
    5. Develop skills to integrate trauma-informed Motivational Interviewing into your work with clients.

    Eligible for 4 hours Certificate of Completion

    Matt Bennett is a relentless advocate for trauma-informed care and other interventions that help people and communities heal. His passion manifests in his books Connecting Paradigms, Talking about Trauma & Change, Heart Variability, and Trauma-Sensitive Early Education as well as his Trauma-Informed Lens and Heart Rate Variability Podcasts. Mr. Bennett combines his masters’ degrees in community psychology and executive development/nonprofit management and business administration with his practical experience as a therapist and leader to develop research-based solutions to improve the health of individuals, staff, organizations, and systems.

    As a sought-after trainer, Mr. Bennett utilizes a participant-centered approach, which includes interactions and adult learning activities to maximize learning, retention, and application. Mr. Bennett’s presentations are a dynamic dance of innovative research, practical applications, and a passion for the art and science of helping others.

       
    • 12/12/2024
    • 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
    • Zoom Webinar
    • 51
    Register

    As a human services professional, you encounter experiences of grief and loss on a regular basis. To work with grief and loss can be daunting, but it is also one of the deepest ways in which we connect with our common humanity. In this class, we will explore the various types of grief, including a new Stage 6 in the stages of grief. We will review observed behaviors and characteristics of grief, so that you are better able to recognize grief in those you serve. You will be provided with a guide outlining how to effectively and compassionately communicate with a client who is grieving. The class will wrap up with a discussion of practices to offer to clients as they move forward in their life, in their own journey of grief and loss. This class is participative in nature and your own experiences and knowledge will add to the value to the class. Please do your best to arrange to take this class in an environment that is quiet and without distraction.

    PRESENTER

    Mary Jo Honiotes, M.A. is a mindfulness educator. She holds a Masters of Arts in Consciousness Studies. She is a member of the Grief Alliance Network of Colorado and is currently studying to be a Death Doula. She provides Celebrations of Life Services in the Denver Metro Area and is in partnership with Seven Stones Botanical Cemetery in Littleton to support families as they lay their loved ones to rest. Grief and loss are essential to the study of mindfulness. She has studied and been involved in all facets of death and dying over the last 25 years. She works with individuals on their grief journeys and is an excellent facilitator.

    Eligible for 90 minutes COC

    • 12/17/2024
    • 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
    • Zoom Webinar
    • 17
    Register

    Trauma is increasingly recognized as a driving factor for causing major mental health and addiction symptoms and can create challenges and obstacles in our work with clients. There is also a growing awareness that professionals get impacted with secondary trauma which can lead to serious symptoms and burnout. A lot of agencies are struggling to help their staff in dealing with trauma in their clients and to help their staff in preventing burnout.


    Motivational Interviewing is an evidence-based practice that is proven to support positive change for clients, but it is also an excellent skillset to prevent secondary trauma and burnout for the practitioner by changing the dynamics of not taking on the tension from our work.


    After this training you will:

    • Be able to understand and identify secondary trauma symptoms
    • Understand the neuroscience of trauma & PTSD
    • Learn how to turn trauma into resilience
    • Gain confidence in working with clients experiencing trauma


    Presenter: Avani G. Dilger, MEd, MA, LPC, BC-DMT, CAS, ADS

    Avani specializes in substance abuse prevention and treatment with adults, teens and their families. She is the founder and director of the “Natural Highs – Healthy Alternatives to Drugs & Alcohol” nonprofit program. Avani has been training professionals in in Motivational Interviewing and other evidence-based practices worldwide for over 20 years. Find out more about Avani HERE.


    Eligible for 3 hours Certificate of Completion

    • 12/18/2024
    • 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
    • Zoom Webinar
    • 44
    Register

    Do you work with veterans or others suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury? Then this in-depth, full-day session is for you.


    Anyone can get PTSD at any age. This includes war veterans and survivors of physical and sexual assault, abuse, accidents, disasters, and many other serious events. Traumatic Brain Injury will almost certainly result in PTSD. But not everyone with PTSD has been through a dangerous event. Some people get PTSD after a friend or family member experiences danger or is harmed. The sudden, unexpected death of a loved one can also cause PTSD.

    Our understanding of complex trauma and how to treat it has expanded over the last decade. No two people have the same reaction to a traumatic experience. And many experience a loss of connection with themselves, their bodies, and others as they process what has happened to them or others. Trauma-informed clinical approaches equip behavioral health service providers with strategies and tools to better engage those affected by complex trauma. This workshop will focus on understanding how a person who has experienced complex trauma responds to and deciphers information and can be triggered. This workshop will define the DSM-5 diagnoses that fall under “Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders,” unpack complex trauma, and discuss evidence-based treatment modalities, practices, and tools for treating complex trauma.

    Objectives: Participants in this workshop will be able to:

    • Discuss the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders
    • Describe the influence of traumatic brain injury on PTSD, treatment, and recovery
    • Explore the many facets of PTSD
    • Articulate at least three evidence-based treatment and practices useful for trauma-informed, trauma-sensitive care

    Eligible for four (4) hour Certificate of Completion

    Presenter: Tracy L. Hutchinson, LPC, MAC, LAC 

    Tracy has been working in the field of Addictions and Mental Health for the past 40 years. Currently, through her Counseling and Consulting private practice, Tracy is a facilitator of professional growth and development for team building. See more information about Tracy HERE.

    • 01/07/2025
    • 01/16/2025
    • 4 sessions
    • Zoom webinar
    • 0
    Join waitlist

    This evidence-based approach has consistently shown positive outcomes in dealing with resistance and defensiveness. Motivational Interviewing is a collaborative conversation style for strengthening a person's own motivation and commitment to change. It has been successfully used with populations where resistance is prevalent, including adults and adolescents who deal with legal problems, substance abuse and mental health issues. 

    Motivational Interviewing provides a “tool box” of techniques and strategies which will help you to be more effective in working with clients who bring a wide range of challenges. This is a four-day online training with a four-hour session each day. A broadband Internet connection and working webcam are required for participation. You must be on-camera during the event to receive a certificate of completion.

     Attendees will: 

    Understand the basic principles and skills of Motivational Interviewing

    Experience a collaborative versus an authoritarian communication style and see how you can effectively decrease defensiveness in clients​;​

    Learn and practice resistance skills​;

    Learn and practice directive skills that help move a client towards positive behavior change​;​

    Be able to elicit commitment language from a client that is correlated to positive outcomes​;​

    Explore proven implementation strategies that help improve your Motivational Interviewing skills in the field​.

    _____

    Presenter: Avani G. Dilger, MEd, MA, LPC, BC-DMT, CA
    Avani specializes in substance abuse prevention and treatment with adults, teens and their families. She is the founder and director of the “Natural Highs – Healthy Alternatives to Drugs & Alcohol” nonprofit program. Avani has been training professionals in in Motivational Interviewing and other evidence-based practices worldwide for over 20 years. Find out more about Avani HERE.

    Eligible for 16 hours MINT Certificate of Completion, valid worldwide.

    • 01/22/2025
    • 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
    • Zoom Webinar
    • 58
    Register

    This interactive workshop on the basics of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is a dynamic and engaging learning experience designed to foster a deeper understanding of key DEI concepts. In this workshop, participants will embark on a journey to explore the critical aspects of diversity, equity, and inclusion, while also addressing important topics such as accessibility, bias, empathy, and dignity.

    Through a combination of informative presentation, group discussion, and interactive activities, participants will gain practical knowledge and skills to promote a more inclusive and equitable environment in their personal and professional lives. Breakout sessions will encourage participants to connect with one another, share their experiences, and collaborate on solutions, making it a truly immersive and enriching learning experience.

    Objectives:

    • Enhance Understanding: The first objective of this workshop is to deepen participants' understanding of the core principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Through interactive discussions and real-world examples, participants will gain insight into the significance of these concepts and how they intersect with accessibility, bias, empathy, and dignity.
    • Identify Personal Biases: Our second objective is to help participants recognize their own biases and unconscious prejudices. By engaging in self-reflection exercises and open dialogues, attendees will develop the ability to identify and challenge their biases, a crucial step towards creating more inclusive environments.
    • Foster Empathy and Connection: The third objective is to foster empathy and encourage meaningful connections among participants. Through breakout sessions and group activities, attendees will have the opportunity to share their experiences, learn from one another, and collectively brainstorm strategies for promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in their communities and workplaces. Building empathy and connections will be key to ensuring lasting positive change.

    Presenter: Sydney Jackson-Clockston Presenter: Sydney Jackson-Clockston, MTM

    Sydney founded Citrine Unlimited LLC in 2020 as a tool to empower and mobilize clients. She is committed to creating a transformative experience through her dynamic, engaging presentations. Sydney is an accessibility advocate, mental health normalizer, and a 2022 Good Business Colorado Award winner. She just published My Own Worst Enemy: Understanding and Overcoming Imposter Syndrome. Sydney is also a member of Consultants For Good, Good Business Colorado, Woman in Sustainability, Posner Center of International Development, and Colorado Neurodiversity Chamber of Commerce

    Eligible for 1.5 hours Certificate of Completion

    • 01/23/2025
    • 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
    • Diverse Talent, 1410 High St, Denver CO 80218
    • 38
    Register

    Join The Network board and staff for an evening of networking with your colleagues. All event registrants will be entered in a drawing for a workshop registration. We're bringing you another opportunity to connect with peers who experience the same ups and downs that you do. We want to makes it easy for you to find resources and support. Come for this casual, drop-in affair and network with others in the human services field.

    So come join us. A splendid time is guaranteed for all.

    Our event sponsor is Diverse Talent, a Human Resource & Placement Firm, whose work supports the notion a pipeline exists across all industries. We provide our clients with the necessary tools and resources to build culture, and our candidates with the skills and direction to grow professionally.

    • 01/30/2025
    • 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
    • Zoom Webinar
    • 50
    Register

    This workshop will define and discuss various aspects of anxiety and depression and how they may present in your clients.

    Anxiety: Anxiety presents itself in different ways in all of us; no two individuals experience anxiety the same. Much like fingerprints, the way an individual experiences and responds to anxiety is unique to them. However, common physiological and neuro responses to stress and anxiety do occur in all of us. We will look at aspects of anxiety that are common across the wide spectrum of anxiety diagnoses. We will focus on these traits and offer actionable approaches in which to navigate acute and chronic anxiety.

    Depression: Recognizing the signs of a depressive episode or period can be critical in taking the necessary steps in preventing its onset. This portion of the workshop will discuss traits commonly associated with a depressive episode. It will offer possible techniques and actions that can be taken to begin the journey out of a depressive episode as well as actionable steps to maintain awareness of signs that an episode may be approaching.

    Actionable Takeaways

    • tools to navigate acute and chronic anxiety
    • techniques to initiate the journey out of a depressive episode
    • signs that a depressive episode may be approaching

    PRESENTER: Charles Floyd (he/him/his) retired from the United States Army after twenty years of honorable service as an Airborne Infantryman. He earned a Master of Arts in International Disaster Psychology from the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Professional Psychology and is a Licensed Professional Counselor candidate working on his licensure requirements. Charles is currently a Community Engagement Coordinator focusing on the Veteran population and Jefferson Center’s Gun Shop Project.

    Eligible for two hours Certificate of Completion
    • 02/03/2025
    • 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
    • Zoom Webinar
    • 50
    Register

    Working with adults and juveniles who have committed sexually based offenses requires an understanding of how Colorado classifies, supervises, and treats such clients, based on the Sex Offender Management Board (SOMB) Standards. This training will provide an overview of best practices in providing therapy to, and working with, this population. Additional relevant information for human service providers will also be presented, including the legal definition of sex offender, the sex offense-specific evaluation requirements, sex offender registry requirements, risk factors, and working as part of a Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) or Community Supervision Team (CST). 

    1.     Participants will have basic knowledge of SOMB Standards, and the differences between working with adults and juveniles. 

    2.     While there is no simple answer to the question of why people engage in sexual offending behavior, research suggests a number of factors related to the etiology and typology regarding individuals who commit sexual offenses. An overview will be provided about these topics, so participants can recognize there is no “one size fits all” in working with this population.  

    3.     Participants will learn how the sex offense specific evaluation is conducted and used as a source of information to guide treatment planning.  

    4.     Participants will have a basic understanding of what sex offense specific treatment requires, including the client taking responsibility for the sexual offending behavior, developing victim empathy, learning how to utilize appropriate social skills, and managing the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors which lead to the sexual offending. The importance of victim and community safety will be highlighted. Treatment-related topics such as assessing risk, addressing safety concerns, and working as part of a team will also be introduced.  

    5.     There will be several case presentations, so participants will apply this knowledge about sex offense specific treatment to particular cases, utilizing a discussion format.  

    Presenter: Ashley Charbonneau, LCSW, LAC

    I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Addiction Counselor, and Colorado Sex Offender Management Board (SOMB) Full Operating Treatment Provider and Evaluator. I started Enso Counseling in 2016. I specialize in providing individual therapy to address substance abuse, healthy relationships, unhealthy sexual behavior, and trauma. Read more about Ashley HERE.

    Eligible for 3 hours Certificate of Completion

    • 02/05/2025
    • 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
    • Zoom Webinar
    • 60
    Register

    While healthy boundaries can be subjective and consist of many different variables, defining healthy boundaries is imperative to the work we do, and allows us to gain a better sense of agency over one’s feelings, energy, and personal space. Setting healthy boundaries is a learned skill that, if done on a consistent basis, will allow us to form stronger relationships with our co-workers, clients and loved ones.

    When we set healthy boundaries, we lead by example for everyone around us. As we all know, every person has limits. When we demonstrate healthy boundaries we express our limits through verbal, nonverbal, and paraverbal communication. In this workshop we will delve into tools to support creating and maintaining professional boundaries. This two- hour workshop will allow us to get comfortable with setting healthy boundaries no matter how challenging it may feel. We will learn to better trust our instincts and delve into the barriers that make it difficult to set boundaries. In an anxiety ridden society it can be intimidating to establish healthy boundaries.

    Fear of rejection, the unconscious desire to please others, lack of understanding around setting boundaries, or the fear of being seen as someone who is “difficult” to work with are some of the many reasons we choose not to practice this essential piece of self-care. Together we can foster self-respect, community empowerment, and genuine happiness by implementing boundaries that allow us all to get our wants and needs met.

    Learning objectives:

    • Articulate what it means to set healthy boundaries

    • Demonstrate an understanding of boundaries and the intersection of cultural, ethical, and professional boundaries in the workplace

    • Analyze the purpose of boundaries and gain valuable insight as to why healthy boundaries are imperative to the work we do

    • Establish techniques to express ones needs and boundaries

    • Identify the supervisor’s role in dealing with boundary issues and create a protocol around violations.

    • Discuss boundaries and barriers when working with a team

    • Examine the correlation between boundaries and burn-out

    • Dissect issues that challenge our professional boundaries and ways to re-establish boundaries

    Presenter:

    Fatima Kiass, Founder & Chief Catalyst.  Empowered Connections

    Fatima is a creative strategist whose life work is committed to strengthening community connectedness and empowering vulnerable populations through leadership, agency, and advocacy. Known for her empathy, Fatima is gifted in having difficult conversations in a way that makes people feel valued and supported. Her communication and interpersonal skills shine at the intersections of community education, organizing, and wellness.

    She was named "Maverick Thinker" by Urban Peak and the City and County of Denver in 2019 for her leadership in designing and facilitating various trainings at national conferences, including the Runaway and Homeless Youth Training Technical Assistance Center (RHYTTAC) and The Race Forward conference. As a mentor, social worker, teacher, and facilitator, Fatima grounds her work in her lived experiences over coming trauma, generational poverty, homelessness, and structural barriers.


    Eligible for two (2) hours Certificate of Completion

    • 02/11/2025
    • 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
    • Zoom Webinar
    • 60
    Register

    When working with people who are in the midst of personal crisis, trauma, or emotional distress, it is common to eventually exhaust yourself from vicarious trauma (aka secondary trauma or compassion fatigue). This workshop is focused on ways to exercise self-care and self-compassion for human services professionals. Self-compassion involves treating ourselves with the care that you would offer a close friend. We will discuss the benefits of self-compassion and how to cope with caregiver fatigue. We will also talk about how to incorporate self-compassion into everyday life. We encourage you to fight caregiver fatigue by taking this time to learn to care for yourself at this enjoyable, interactive workshop.

    Participants will learn about the impact of traumatic stress on the brain and on the body. Concepts of vicarious trauma, secondary trauma, compassion fatigue, and burnout will be addressed. Finally, we will explore organizational and personal strategies that can be employed to mitigate the effects of secondary traumatic stress.

    Causes of vicarious trauma

    Your clients may have experienced trauma associated with childhood abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault or other violent crimes, disasters, war, forced migration, or even political torture. Vicarious traumatic stress is now recognized as an occupational hazard of providing direct services to populations with histories of trauma. Vicarious trauma involves a transformation which occurs in the inner experience of the human services practitioner as a result of empathetic engagement with their clients' traumatic experiences. The emotional costs of caring for clients with histories of trauma can be significant, including the loss of personal and professional resiliency. A growing body of research evidence has demonstrated that secondary traumatic stress has the potential to erode work performance, undermine motivation and morale, and adversely impact the personal health of the practitioner.

    Healing (Trauma) Informed Self-Care (HISC) is an important best practice model for all direct care workers to understand. Understanding Healing Informed self-care is at least as important in the direct care field. Research in trauma, neuropsychology, positive psychology and other disciplines identify several approaches to self-care that help mitigate stress, trauma, secondary trauma, compassion fatigue and burn-out. Understanding how we are affected, as well as how we can care well for ourselves and others, will undoubtedly help us lead and shape the future together. Learning objectives include the following.

    By the end of the training, learners will be able to:

    • Describe Stress, Trauma, Secondary Trauma, Burn-Out, Compassion Fatigue, Zoom Fatigue, Moral Fatigue &/or Comparative Suffering;
    • Be able to identify symptoms in yourself and others and know how to access help;
    • Understand what predicts Vicarious Trauma;
    • Become aware of causes and consequences in order to help decrease vulnerability;
    • Practice self-administered stress reduction relaxation techniques
    • Identify at least one way to insulate themselves from Vicarious/Secondary Trauma, Burn-Out &/or Compassion Fatigue
    • Identify at least one thing they will do for better Self-Care.

    Presenter: Melinda Marasch, LCSW
    Aspire Training & Consulting

    It is my honor to do exciting work with the amazing, compassionate people in the nonprofit world! It has been my life’s passion to help others, first as a psycho-therapist and now as a consultant. I specialize in clinical supervision in the form of training (in-person and online), as well as individual and group sessions. We serve licensed and unlicensed individuals, as well as programs and organizations. I have expertise in many areas, including HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, mental illnesses and much more. I also provide coaching to clients who are motivated to maximize their assets. 

    Eligible for 3 hours Certificate of Completion

    • 02/18/2025
    • 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
    • Zoom Webinar
    • 28
    Register

    MI_cartoon

    Motivational Interviewing provides a “tool box” of techniques and strategies which will help you to be more effective in working with clients who bring a wide range of challenges. This one-day advanced Motivational Interviewing Training is the next step for teams who are serious about an evidence-based implementation of Motivational Interviewing skills. The development and maintenance of MI skills is a challenge for front-line workers. Participating in the workshops is a great start but ongoing feedback and mentoring are needed in order for most workers to use MI skillfully. This workshop can help enhance both supervisor MI skills and the quality and nature of the mentoring process. It’s a win-win for clients and agency staff alike.
    This advanced MI training is only for those who have already taken the Motivational Interviewing Basic Two-Day training series. The training builds on the two-day MI Skills Training and teaches supervisors and professionals who are passionate about MI how to keep the practice of MI alive within their teams. If you have not undergone the MI Basic Series, please register for that course instead of this one; we conduct MI Basic regularly.

    Participants will leave with an understanding of:
    • the research-based building-blocks of a successful MI implementation
    • MI coaching skills
    • how to facilitate MI practice sessions
    • a manual with tailored MI exercises to build & sustain their team’s MI skills

    _________

    Presenter: Avani G. Dilger, MEd, MA, LPC, BC-DMT, CAS 
    Avani specializes in substance abuse prevention and treatment with adults, teens and their families. She is the founder and director of the “Natural Highs – Healthy Alternatives to Drugs & Alcohol” nonprofit program. Avani has been training professionals in in Motivational Interviewing and other evidence-based practices worldwide for over 20 years. Find out more about Avani HERE.

    ________

    Eligible for 8 hours Certificate of Completion

    • 02/19/2025
    • 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
    • Zoom Webinar
    • 56
    Register

    Are your clients feeling hopeless in their search for employment? Sometimes it seems like an endless task, searching for a job; and losing hope is the face in the mirror. Especially when you are justice-involved or lack the educational requirements.

    During this webinar, we will discover proven methods to help build a solid plan, open up employment options, and develop partnerships to overcome these struggles and obstacles.

    GOALS:

    Discuss current and local employment resources and opportunities.

    Identify and discuss ways to improve support for families in need.

    Develop additional communication streams for up-to-date resources for adequate employment and compensation.

    Help improve community relationships and partnership opportunities for employment, resources, hiring events, and recruitment fairs.

    OUTLINE

    1. Where are the jobs and career opportunities?

    • Felony-friendly employment resources and opportunities.
    • No experience necessary employment opportunities (OTJT)
    • Non-GED or high school graduate

    2. What about Apprenticeship Opportunities? How does an apprenticeship program work?

    3. What are Career Training Programs? How does this program work to benefit job seekers?

    4. Building a plan of resources and jobs based on the availability

    • Resource Centers and Workforce Development locations?
    • Develop expectations and review obstacles and barriers.
    • Improving warm introductions and follow-up techniques?
    • How do you develop an online strategy for job applications?
    • How much does that job pay?

    Two Break-Out Sessions will build upon the topics above.

    Eligible for a two-hour certificate of completion.

    Presenter: Marsha Brown, CORE Inspirate LLC

    Ms. Brown has a multifaceted career history that allows her to serve the community she lives in. She brings her sharpened skills and experience to help inspire and empower others. Ms. Brown has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Her career has moved from Customer Service Manager over accounts like The Detroit Zoological Institute to NA Manager for TransUnion LLC., overseeing relationships with homeowners and FEMA guidelines. Ms. Brown’s diverse career path and "lived experience" has allowed her to build a wealth of knowledge- focusing on; advocacy for resilience, job creation; and enhancing self-sufficiency programs. Ms. Brown teaches others how to maximize best practices, advocacy, financial health, and home ownership. She served as a Commissioner for the DHA Board, is an Alumni of Warren Village Transitional Housing and a seasoned Storyteller for the Close to Home Campaign to end homelessness.

    • 03/04/2025
    • 03/13/2025
    • 4 sessions
    • Zoom webinar
    • 29
    Register

    This evidence-based approach has consistently shown positive outcomes in dealing with resistance and defensiveness. Motivational Interviewing is a collaborative conversation style for strengthening a person's own motivation and commitment to change. It has been successfully used with populations where resistance is prevalent, including adults and adolescents who deal with legal problems, substance abuse and mental health issues. 

    Motivational Interviewing provides a “tool box” of techniques and strategies which will help you to be more effective in working with clients who bring a wide range of challenges. This is a four-day online training with a four-hour session each day. A broadband Internet connection and working webcam are required for participation. You must be on-camera during the event to receive a certificate of completion.

     Attendees will: 

    Understand the basic principles and skills of Motivational Interviewing

    Experience a collaborative versus an authoritarian communication style and see how you can effectively decrease defensiveness in clients​;​

    Learn and practice resistance skills​;

    Learn and practice directive skills that help move a client towards positive behavior change​;​

    Be able to elicit commitment language from a client that is correlated to positive outcomes​;​

    Explore proven implementation strategies that help improve your Motivational Interviewing skills in the field​.

    _____

    Presenter: Avani G. Dilger, MEd, MA, LPC, BC-DMT, CA
    Avani specializes in substance abuse prevention and treatment with adults, teens and their families. She is the founder and director of the “Natural Highs – Healthy Alternatives to Drugs & Alcohol” nonprofit program. Avani has been training professionals in in Motivational Interviewing and other evidence-based practices worldwide for over 20 years. Find out more about Avani HERE.

    Eligible for 16 hours MINT Certificate of Completion, valid worldwide.

Event Schedule

View the Network's projected training topics and other training information here. To view event information and fees (including member discounts) before registering, click Show details in the lower right -hand corner of each event description above.

 Cancellation Policy

  • Substitutions are welcome; please let us know in advance.
  • No-shows and cancellations 7 days or less prior to an event will be granted neither credit nor refund.
  • Up to 8 days prior to event:  25% refund will be issued in the form of a credit towards future registration.
  • Up to 15 days prior to event: 50% refund will be issued in the form of a credit towards future registration.
  • Up to 29 days prior to event: A full refund will be issued.
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