Using Motivational Interviewing to Respond to Racism from Clients

Many professionals working in health and human services experience racial bias from clients and, too often, agencies don’t know how to respond. Because of mental illness, substance use disorder and other factors, many administrators and practitioners believe there is nothing that can be done to prevent or respond to biased behavior from clients. This can create a stressful and demoralizing workplace culture for staff who are on the receiving end of harmful behavior. Additionally, not responding to racist behavior implies that the behavior is normal and acceptable. This training will introduce the use of Motivational Interviewing to respectfully and effectively respond to racism from clients in an effort to create a more respectful workplace and services culture, and to support clients in identifying their own motivation to change.

Topics include:

• An overview of institutional responsibilities
• Inhibiting and encouraging factors of responding to racism from clients
• The impact of not responding
• The cost/benefit analysis of responding vs not responding
• Overview and benefits of Motivational Interviewing with people experiencing substance use disorders
• Application of Motivational Interviewing to clients who express racism
• Pitfalls to avoid when using Motivational Interviewing to respond to racism
• Sample dialogue templates, scenarios for practice