I am the Clinical Director for the Behavioral Health and Wellness Program and the Wellness Leadership Institute at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine. I have developed many training programs and educational materials for administrators, healthcare providers, and peer specialists focused on health behavior change for whole health, work & well-being, tobacco cessation, and vaccination. I also work with organizations to create systems that support the overall health of the organization, its employees, and the people they serve. I became a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) in 2016. That same year, I created the Motivational Interviewing Training Institute at the University of Colorado, School of Medicine, providing beginning and advanced MI training for healthcare professionals. Additionally, I have developed and facilitated specialized MI trainings for diverse settings, including medical, community health, behavioral health, and criminal justice, among others.
My first introduction to Motivational Interviewing was in graduate school. At the time, I was exploring different treatment modalities and discovered few that fit my belief system, core values, and interpersonal style. As such, I took pieces from Existential/Humanistic/Person-Centered therapies, Psychodynamic, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), integrating them in a manner that made sense to me. It wasn't until I learned about Motivational Interviewing that I had an "Ah-ha" moment. As I read about MI, all of the bits and pieces I had collected during my training came together, coalescing in a single approach. After I completed my doctorate in 2001, I started my private practice. Over these many years, I have practiced and honed my MI skills, working with hundreds of individuals to create change. I have felt honored to witness and been awed by people's wisdom and ability to change. As clinical faculty at the University of Colorado Denver and in my current position as Clinical Director at the University of Colorado, School of Medicine, Behavioral Health & Wellness Program, I have taught thousands of students and healthcare professionals to work from an MI approach, whether as a foundation to a therapeutic treatment program or a stand-alone multi-day intensive MI training. Working from an MI approach is empowering and the best self-care I can engage in as a trainer and practitioner. It is my privilege to stand with other professionals, collaborating and learning together.
