This session was designed to introduce direct service providers to Motivational Interviewing (MI) as a practical communication approach for supporting client autonomy, engagement, and decision-making in resettlement and ORR-eligible service settings. We walked through the foundations of MI, including the spirit of Motivational Interviewing, the difference between “telling” and “asking,” and core skills like open-ended questions, affirmations, reflections, and summaries (OARS).

Participants also explored real-world resettlement scenarios, examples of change talk, and simple scaling questions to practice responding to ambivalence, reducing resistance, and partnering with clients around their own goals. The session emphasized culturally responsive application, meeting clients where they are, and using MI as a flexible, strengths-based approach that builds trust across systems and cultures.

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