Motivational Interviewing: A Harm Reduction Treatment for Substance Abuse

Overview:

“Harm reduction” appears everywhere from project proposals to newspaper headlines. Although harm reduction (HR) seems to be everywhere all at once, the philosophy and practice of harm reduction is not always clearly understood. Additionally, practitioners have often not received any significant training in HR and are unsure on how to work with this approach when working with help seekers. In this training, we will discuss some of the basic tenets of harm reduction. We will also have an opportunity to practice using some exercises designed to explore an individual’s relationship to substances and/or behaviors and discuss how the harm reduction approach can lead to meaningful and productive conversations that promote change.

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

• Define the term “harm reduction” and identify at least three practitioner and/or client activities that can be considered a type of harm reduction.
• Distinguish between the clinical practice of harm reduction and the Harm Reduction social justice movement.
• Use at least two harm reduction exercises to explore acceptance, self-compassion, and empowerment.
• Explore one’s relationship to a substance or behavior and create a sample goal or next step for change and growth.

About the Trainers:

Kristin Dempsey, EdD, LMFT, LPCC is a licensed marriage and family therapist and professional clinical counselor with an EdD in Organizational Change and Leadership. She has provided psychotherapy in the Bay Area for almost 25 years in public non-profits and county mental health settings, schools, and medical clinics. Kristin Dempsey trains providers in a number of evidence-based practices. She is a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers and has experience teaching and training cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), cognitive behavior therapy for psychosis (CBTp), and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).

Please Note:

CTI knowingly acknowledges that the information presented in the program by Kristin Dempsey may reference material widely written about by this author but is not intended to promote the sale of her books. Neither CTI nor Kristin Dempsey will be selling her books at any time during the program, but they are widely available for sale elsewhere.

Fee:

$100 Standard Registration

$110 Standard Registration Including 3 CE Credits

Continuing Education Credits:

Full attendance meets the qualifications for 3.0 hours of continuing education credit. Child Training Institute (CTI) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. CTI maintains responsibility for this program and its content. The CA BBS recognizes the APA as an approval agency to meet their CE requirements. Disciplines such as social workers and counselors outside of California should check with their respective state board to assure acceptance of APA approved sponsors for CE credits.

In order to receive CE credits, participants must purchase a Registration Including CE Credit ticket. Full attendance is required in order to receive CE credits and no partial credit will be offered. Failure to meet this requirement will prohibit the Child Training Institute from issuing a CE certificate and no refund will be provided.

Registration and Cancellation:

Pre-registration is required. Cancellation requests emailed to the event manager prior to 11:59 pm on Sunday, 6/9/24, will receive a full refund. No refunds for cancellation requests received on or after 6/10/24 regardless of the cause for cancellation including failure to join the meeting on the day of the training. If the training cannot be held due to circumstances beyond the hosts’ control (natural disaster, strike, fire, severe weather, illness of speaker, speaker cancellation, etc.) the event will be rescheduled, if possible, and the registration fee applied to that date. If rescheduling is not possible or the registrant cannot attend the rescheduled date, reimbursement will be provided less any actual costs accrued.

Instructions for Zoom will be emailed to all participants 30 minutes prior to the training.

For questions, scholarships, and discounts for students and interns, please contact Teresa Merenda, Child Training Institute Program Coordinator, at TeresaM@jfcs.org.