MI for Change: Motivational Interviewing in ABA & Mental Health
MI for Change is the podcast dedicated to exploring Motivational Interviewing (MI) in behavior analysis and mental health. Hosted by Dr. Monica Gilbert, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Psychologist, this show helps professionals transform client conversations — one question at a time.
Each episode delivers:
✨ Practical MI strategies you can apply immediately in sessions
✨ Real case examples that bring concepts to life
✨ Inspiring interviews with experts across ABA and mental health
Whether you’re an ABA practitioner, therapist, counselor, or student, you’ll discover how simple shifts in communication can reduce resistance, strengthen rapport, and spark lasting change.
Because parent coaching and client conversations don’t have to feel like a struggle — they can be the spark that makes transformation possible.
Subscribe today and join the journey to becoming a more effective, confident, and client-centered communicator.
This is MI for Change.
MI for Change: Motivational Interviewing in ABA & Mental Health
Softening Sustain Talk & Cultivating Change Talk With Hillary Logan
In this episode of MI for Change, I’m joined by Hillary Logan, LCSW, MINT-certified trainer and founder of MI Center for Change, for a deep, practical conversation about sustain talk—or as Hillary calls it, “stuck talk.”
Together, we explore what sustain talk is really telling us about a client’s readiness, why it’s protective (not resistance), and how to soften sustain talk without amplifying it, while intentionally cultivating change talk.
We talk about:
- Why sustain talk isn’t the problem—but how we respond to it can be
- How softening sustain talk mirrors behavioral principles like differential reinforcement
- When reflecting sustain talk helps—and when it accidentally strengthens it
- Why silence feels so uncomfortable (and how to use it skillfully)
- How provider mindset, tone, and curiosity shape client outcomes
- Using the four processes of MI (engage, focus, evoke, plan) as an assessment tool when sessions feel “stuck”
This episode is especially helpful for clinicians who feel confident with OARS, but struggle with the technical side of MI—how to move sessions forward without fixing, pushing, or arguing.
🎧 Listen now and learn how to turn stuck moments into movement.
Resources Mentioned
- MI Center for Change: www.micenterforchange.com
Learn more about Motivational Interviewing and explore on-demand courses at www.drmonicagilbert.com
Join the MI Academy for practical training and resources — and enjoy an exclusive 15% off with code MIFORCHANGE at checkout.
📲 Connect with me on Instagram: @drmonicagilbert
