Cascadia Training for Professional Development

Motivating Clients from Indecision to Action
2026-12-10 09:00 - 16:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Zoom
Motivating Clients from Indecision to Action
Presented by: Randi Jensen, MA, LMHC, CCDC
When: Thursday, December 10th, 2026 | 9:00 am – 4:30 pm Pacific Time
Where: Live on Zoom. You will receive your Zoom link/invitation the week of the workshop.
Continuing Education Credit Hours (NBCC and NASW-WA Approved): 6 CEs | $190.00
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an established evidence-based practice renowned for resolving ambivalence. MI, which originates in substance use disorder treatment, has been shown to enhance client motivation for change and improve treatment outcomes. The spirit of MI complements Self-Determination Theory (SDI), which asserts that people have an intrinsic desire to make life changes congruent with their core values. SDI states that people are more likely to be internally motivated if their actions, beliefs, and core values align. Motivational Interviewing provides the technique to make that happen. The principles of Motivational Interviewing include providing accurate empathy, building discrepancy, rolling with resistance, and increasing self-efficacy. These supply the basis for building intrinsic motivation for change and can facilitate the resolution of life-threatening ambivalence in suicidality. Researchers Britton, Williams, and Connor (2008) show how the therapist’s proficiency in Motivational Interviewing can resolve a client’s ambivalence and resistance to change. This very practical workshop includes learning through lectures, interactive discussions, demonstrations, video role plays, and skill-building through group exercises. These methods combine to provide techniques and interventions that can be applied immediately.
Objectives:
• Describe the principles that underpin Motivational Interviewing and how they promote client autonomy • Articulate the distinguishing techniques of open-ended questions, affirmations, reflective listening, and summarizations • Explain the Stages of Change as described by Prochaska and DiClemente (1983) • Discuss the significance of Self-Determination Theory in coordination with MI • Distinguish different methods of using MI with specific populations and varied disorders • Express and practice Motivational Interviewing techniques used in counseling suicidal individuals • Describe ethical considerations and documentation • Enumerate necessary therapist qualities that support the efficient use of MI Randi is an expert in both using and teaching Motivational Interviewing. In addition to her many years of presenting Cascadia Training workshops, she taught Motivational Interviewing courses as an adjunct faculty member at Bastyr University and as Case Management Program Director for Antioch University and Seattle’s Job Initiative. She also uses her expert-level skills in Motivational Interviewing in her private practice, specializing in treating clients with suicidality, suicide ideation, substance use disorders, and more. REGISTER HERE

🆕 BRAND-NEW! AuDHD in Love Two-Day Series 🆕
2026-12-10 09:00 - 2026-12-11 16:30
BRAND-NEW!
Health Equity or Cultural Competence Continuing Education Credits (CEs)
AuDHD in Love Two-Day Series
Presented by: B Lourenco, MA, LMHC, Stacy Skowronski, PhD, LCSW, CST, and Hannah Tyer, MOTR/L
When: Thursday, December 10th – Friday, December 11th, 2026 | 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM, Pacific Time
Where: Live on Zoom. You will receive your Zoom link/invitation the week of the workshop.
Continuing Education Credit Hours (NBCC and NASW-WA Approved CEs): 12 CEs – 4 count as Health Equity or Cultural Competence CEs | $319.00***see below for payment and financial options
Continuing Education Workshop Description
As people learn more about Autism and ADHD through lived-experience and the Neurodiversity-Affirming movement, we see the layered influence on sexual and romantic relationships. Masking profoundly affects the development of the “self” and the understanding of relationships, leading to misunderstandings and confusion across all relational settings. Add in the nuances of differing sensory needs and ways of attending to stimuli, plus experiences of rejection sensitivity and demand avoidance, and the challenges pile up quickly. And we haven’t even talked about relational trauma yet!
Whether people share the same neurotype or not, the impact of neurodivergence is complex and layered. Using a multidisciplinary approach, this workshop is taught by three clinicians with a variety of expertise and experience and will explore how Autism and ADHD affect intra- and interpersonal relationships, from platonic to romantic/sexual and everything in between.
Broken down into 2 parts, Day One will focus on AuDHD traits and how they influence the individual while in relationships, and is geared towards folks who work largely with individual clients. Day Two will shift into a relational lens that offers support for clinicians who work with couples and systems. Attendees are welcome to attend one or both days, depending on their clinical needs and interests.
Day One Key Objectives
After this continuing education workshop, attendees will be able to:

Define at least 3 ways the medical model of Autism and ADHD differs from the neurodiversity-affirming model
Define at least 3 ways the medical model of Autism and ADHD leads to biases in healthcare providers/clinicians
Describe at least 2 ways that Autistic and ADHD traits and experiences can impact romantic/sexual relationships
Explain the relational effects of the Double Empathy Problem, Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria, and Pathological Demand Avoidance
Identify how monotropism influences Au/DHD communication and relational patterns
Identify how missing key experiences like monotropism, RSD, and PDA can contribute to relational harm in therapy
Describe how differing sensory profiles can impact all types of relationships where people share space

Day Two Key Objectives
After this continuing education workshop, attendees will be able to:

Identify key elements from Bowen’s Family System theory and how they present in AuDHD relational systems
Identify how Au/DHD traits influence relational pacing and attachment
Apply sensory-informed and interoceptive frameworks to enhance safety and connection
Implement tools to offer sensory mapping profiles for relational systems
Identify/understand common polarities in neurodivergent couples that impact connection
Identify how prioritizing independence as a therapeutic goal negatively impacts ND couples and systems
Differentiate codependence from interdependence within neurodiverse couples
Describe at least 2 ways that current relational therapy models may perpetuate stereotypes and harm AuDHD people
Integrate neurodiversity-affirming approaches and the Polarities to Parallels Model to support accountability, repair, and mutual regulation

***Payment & Financial Options:
Cascadia Training values quality continuing education that is accessible, inclusive, and barrier-free for all. We never want the cost of our workshops to be a barrier to attending, particularly our multi-session workshops.
We offer several options to make our workshops cost-inclusive: payment plans, limited full- and partial-scholarship opportunities, student discounts, early professional, military/veteran, LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and more discounts. Please email us at hello@cascadiatraining.org for more information.
For payment plans, you can select paying 50% today and 50% due on December 31, 2026.
REGISTER HERE
