Keary Wayne Saffold is a Minnesota-based mental health practitioner, behavioral development consultant, speaker, and member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT). His career spans school leadership, youth development, family engagement, and behavioral health. As a former dean of students and cultural liaison, he has worked alongside young people, families, educators, and professionals from varied backgrounds and perspectives.
Keary’s strength is building trust across those differences. He brings a relationship-centered, culturally responsive approach to motivational interviewing, helping people feel heard, recognize their strengths, and move toward meaningful change.
He is also the author of the 50 Master Code Series, a three-part resource equipping students, parents, and educators with practical skills for lifelong success.
I see motivational interviewing as a way to build connection across differences, not a script to deliver. My work brings MI into the real-world settings where relationships shape change: schools, youth-serving programs, family partnerships, and behavioral health.
As a former dean of students and cultural liaison, mental health practitioner, and consultant, I have worked alongside young people, parents, educators, and professionals with different backgrounds, roles, and perspectives. That range shapes how I facilitate learning. I make MI practical, culturally responsive, and grounded in listening before advising.
I help participants strengthen reflective listening, draw out people’s own reasons for change, and apply MI to the conversations they have every day. My goal is for people to leave better prepared to build trust with someone whose experiences or perspective may be different from their own.
