Building Brave Spaces: A Day of Trauma-Informed Motivational Interviewing in Klamath Falls

I had the privilege of facilitating an all-day, in-person Trauma-Informed Motivational Interviewing (TI-MI) training with a phenomenal group of over 30 Oregon DHS staff and community partners in beautiful Klamath Falls. 💛

A heartfelt thank you to Maurita Johnson for the invitation and for bringing this learning opportunity to her community. Her leadership and vision helped create a space where people felt safe, seen, and ready to grow.

This group showed up. They brought their curiosity, their lived experience, and their openness to learn—not just from me, but from each other. That willingness was reflected in the thoughtful feedback we received:

“This was such a fun, informative training. I felt comfortable sharing with the group because I felt safe in the space provided.”

“Everyone was welcoming and open.”

“Very relaxed environment... there was no judgment.”

As a facilitator, I know deep learning only happens when people feel safe enough to step outside their comfort zones. That’s why our training always begins with clear, trauma-informed group agreements that create a safe and brave space—the kind of environment where people can experiment, make mistakes, and stretch their skills with compassion and confidence.

And stretch, they did! We leaned into role plays, practiced reflective listening, and explored what it means to collaborate with participants instead of directing them. The room was full of laughter, rich conversation, and that beautiful buzz that happens when learning feels alive.

We also held space to talk about something often overlooked: vicarious trauma. In helping roles, emotional labor is real—and if we’re not intentional, it catches up with us. That’s why we closed the day by building out personalized self-care plans. Because in this work, self-care isn’t optional—it’s essential.

• What participants are taking back to their work:

• Practical Motivational Interviewing skills

• More empathy and attunement

• Deeper listening

• Open-ended questioning strategies

• Collaborative planning with clients

• Comfort with resistance and non-engagement

• “As a Peer Parent Mentor, I can use all of this material in the work I do with clients.”

Why Trauma-Informed MI?

At Silver Linings International, our TI-MI training isn’t just about learning techniques—it’s about transforming the way we engage with others. Whether you work in child welfare, behavioral health, education, or peer support, this approach helps you build stronger, more respectful, and empowering relationships.

It’s about creating moments where clients feel like partners, not problems to fix.

Bring This Work to Your Team

If you're ready to cultivate more connection, reduce burnout, and deepen your impact with those you serve, let’s talk. We offer virtual and in-person trainings tailored to your organization’s needs.

📩 Contact us to bring Trauma-Informed Motivational Interviewing to your team or community.

Let’s build brave spaces together. 💛