Motivational Interviewing & Mentalizing for those working with CYP in crisis

About this training

This 2-day training is part of our Children and Young People’s Crisis training programme.

This training presents motivational interviewing, underpinned by the theory of mentalizing, as a model for brief work with children and young people who are experiencing mental health crisis.

It offers a collaborative approach for working with children, young people and families who may be ambivalent about engaging in post-crisis support, through making sense of their ambivalence and eliciting and building upon their own motivation to change.

Please note: Between 2021 and 2024, this training was commissioned by NHS England for the crisis workforce in England. NHS England funding is not available for the financial year 2024-25.

Aims of this training

This training will cover:

• the core principles and practices of motivational interviewing

• theoretically underpinned by an understanding of mentalizing and its role in rapidly establishing therapeutic alliance and in supporting change

• mentalizing ambivalence around change and adapting one's discourse to meet children and young people where they are

• an motivational interviewing and mentalizing approach to collaborative planning of care post-crisis.

Who is this training for?

Education staff and anyone working within health, social care and youth services who work with children and young people in crisis, and their families, within and outside of the UK.