Suicide: Creating Hope with Motivational Interviewing

Drawing on Hope Theory, the session highlights how fostering agency (belief in one’s ability to act) and pathways (identifying realistic routes forward) can help individuals move from despair toward possibility. Through practical examples and applied dialogue strategies, attendees will see how hope can be intentionally cultivated in difficult conversations.

Learning objectives:

• Participants will learn how communication style impacts motivation, engagement, and identity development.
• Participants will learn how client language reflects motivation and how educator responses can either reinforce resistance or evoke change-oriented thinking.
• Participants will leave with simple, actionable communication strategies that foster autonomy, engagement, and ownership of goals.

Bio:

Scott holds a Master of Science in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of Walden and a Bachelor of Science in Applied Psychology from Bemidji State University. He is the CEO and Founder of Legacy Group, LLC an agency specializing in evidence-based trainings. He is a trainer of EPICS, Core Correctional Practices, Aggression Replacement Therapy, Thinking for a Change, Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Intervention-Comprehensive Curriculum, Cognitive Behavioral Intervention-Substance Abuse, and Continuous Quality Improvement, to name a few. Scott has trained in most areas of the U.S. and led several International trainings in Ireland, Canada, and Uganda. He has trained thousands of participants who are committed to learning Evidence Based Programs and skills. He is a Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) member since 2015, and has been an active trainer since 2010. He has trained with many American Indian Tribes in Northern MN, in their housing, health, corrections, and administrative offices. He has also trained other racially diverse populations across the United States, and has focused on the unifying principles of human engagement and connection.