Motivational Interviewing Skills for Depression in System-Involved Youth

Trainer: Dr. Marya Wright, DSW, MSW

Date: September 18, 2025

Time: 1:00pm - 4:00pm

Location: Virtual – Zoom

Agency: A Better Way Inc.

Participants must complete registration via the A Better Way Inc. website in order to gain full access to the training course.

COMPLETE REGISTRATION HERE: A Better Way Training

A Better Way is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor Continuing Education for LCSW, LMFT, LPCC, LEP (62361). This course meets the qualifications for Continuing Education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. A Better Way maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content.

This course is sponsored by A Better Way in partnership with CLPCCD and County Child Welfare Services. Training sessions are funded by The Federal Foster Care Title IV-E Program. CE credit is available for select courses. Inquire for details www.abetterwayinc.net.

Please email the training department at trainings@abetterwayinc.net for further assistance.

Description

This training session offers professionals a comprehensive understanding of Motivational Interviewing (MI) principles and their practical application in supporting individuals experiencing depression within system-involved populations. With a specific focus on clients navigating systems such as the criminal justice system or foster care, participants will delve into the unique challenges these individuals face and learn how MI can serve as a powerful tool for fostering motivation and change.

Throughout the session, participants will explore the core principles of MI, including empathy, discrepancy, resistance, and self-efficacy, tailored to the context of working with depressed, system-involved clients. Through interactive discussions, case studies, and role-playing exercises, participants will gain hands-on experience in applying MI techniques to engage clients, elicit change talk, and navigate ambivalence effectively.

By the end of the training, participants will emerge with practical skills and strategies to enhance their therapeutic approach, empowering them to build rapport, support autonomy, and facilitate positive outcomes for system-involved clients experiencing depression symptoms. This training equips professionals with the tools they need to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those they serve, fostering resilience and promoting holistic well-being within vulnerable populations. The material will be delivered by PowerPoint presentation, short video clips, group discussion, breakout (small group) discussions and participant workbook (handout).

Learning Objectives

• Understand the foundational principles of Motivational Interviewing (MI) and its applicability in supporting system-involved clients experiencing depression symptoms.
• Recognize the unique challenges faced by system-involved individuals in accessing mental health support and the implications for their experiences with depression.
• Explore the core principles of MI, including empathy, discrepancy, resistance, and self-efficacy, and understand how these principles can be effectively applied in the context of depression treatment.
• Participants will be able to identify the unique challenges faced by system-involved individuals in accessing mental health support and recognize the implications for addressing depression within this population.

Transfer of Learning Goals

• Participants will develop practical skills in conducting readiness rulers to assess client motivation and employing open-ended questioning techniques to explore ambivalence related to depression symptoms.
• Participants will exhibit competence in eliciting and amplifying change talk, fostering collaboration, and supporting client autonomy in addressing depression symptoms within system-involved populations.

Trainer Bio

Marya Wright, DSW, LCSW, is a nationally distinguished Black social worker, consultant, published author, educator, and facilitator with extensive expertise in organizational leadership, child welfare services, and curriculum development. As the Founder and CEO of Marya Wright Consulting LLC, Dr. Wright is dedicated to empowering system-involved families through awareness, services, and education. She also provides consultation, training, and facilitation to agencies supporting these communities.

Dr. Wright earned her Master of Social Work from Cal State East Bay, specializing in child welfare policy and research, and her Bachelor of Social Work from San Diego State University, with a focus on Child Welfare Services and Motivational Interviewing. She holds a Doctorate in Social Work from the University of Southern California's Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, where she focused on advancing equal opportunity and justice within the child welfare system.

As a community leader, Dr. Wright prioritizes relationship-building, networking, and stakeholder collaboration to address the social and economic challenges her clients face, advocating for justice and peace. She has served as a qualified expert witness and forensic social worker and currently sits on the Board of Directors for the National Phi Alpha Honor Society. Additionally, she is an active member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and its California Chapter.

Dr. Wright’s research interests include child sexual exploitation, foster care, and algorithmic decision-making in child welfare. She has published articles and lectured extensively on these topics. Since January 2020, she has taught sociology and social work courses at Cal State East Bay, focusing on sexualities, child welfare policy, family sociology, and sexual violence. Currently, she serves as a professor in the graduate program, teaching generalist practice, human behavior and the social environment, and advanced practice with children, youth, and families.