Motivational Interviewing with Older Adults: Practical Skills for Supportive Conversation

This one-hour workshop introduces the core principles of Motivational Interviewing (MI) with a focus on engaging older adults. Participants will explore strategies to support behavior change in a respectful, collaborative manner that honors autonomy and lived experience. Through discussion and real-world examples, attendees will gain practical tools to apply MI techniques in aging-related contexts, such as health behavior change, care planning, and social support.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the session, participants will be able to:

1. Describe the foundational principles of Motivational Interviewing and how they apply to working with older adults.

2. Better understand at least two MI techniques (e.g., open-ended questions, reflective listening) tailored to support autonomy and readiness for change in older adults.

3. Identify common challenges and opportunities when using MI with older populations, including issues related to ambivalence, cognitive changes, and generational values.

Katherine Tineo-Komatsu, LCSW, RYT is a licensed clinical social worker and registered yoga trainer, as well as a trainer, consultant, educator, writer, advocate, and radical intuitive healer. She has worked in the field of social work for over 10 years working with older adults, adults, young people, young children, families, and groups. She has worked in non-profits, health care programs, and educational settings.