Conversations that help people find their own reasons for change.
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a collaborative approach to strengthening a person’s own motivation for change. It is especially useful when someone feels pulled in different directions—wanting something to be different while also having reasons to stay where they are. Through careful listening and purposeful questions, practitioners help people explore what matters to them and consider a way forward.
STCS helps practitioners develop these skills and apply them in everyday work through training, coaching, and implementation support.
A foundation of Partnership, Acceptance, Compassion, and Empowerment.
These principles—known as PACE—shape the heartset and mindset STCS brings to training, consultation, and clinical practice. We bring professional knowledge while respecting the experience, strengths, and choices of the people we work with.
In MI training and coaching, we help practitioners bring this same foundation into their conversations: listening to understand, recognizing each person’s knowledge of their own life, and supporting their strengths and freedom to choose.
Feeling two ways about something at the same time is normal.
Someone can want change and also have reasons to keep things as they are. STCS makes room for both, without treating mixed feelings as a problem to overcome.
Through MI training and coaching, we help practitioners explore these conversations with curiosity—understanding what matters to the person, hearing their reasons for and against change, and supporting them in considering what comes next.
Skill develops through use.
Foundational & Applied Training
Coaching & Deliberate Practice
Communities of Practice
Champions & Internal Capacity
Fidelity-informed feedback and implementation support
Nearly two decades of developing MI in practice.
Gretchen G. Soto became a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) in 2008, following the Training for New Trainers in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
View MINT Trainer ProfileSince then, she has trained thousands of practitioners nationally and internationally across behavioral health, human services, clinical, community, and public-sector settings.
Her work extends beyond training to sustainable MI capacity through coaching, Communities of Practice, internal Champions, ongoing skill development, and implementation structures designed to support MI beyond the training room.
For continued learning, practice, and development.
Books & Applied Texts
Guilford Press — Applications of Motivational Interviewing seriesResearch, Measures & Manuals
University of New Mexico — CASAA Tools & ResourcesFree MI Learning Resources
Psychwire — Motivational Interviewing resourcesVideos & Demonstrations
What Is Motivational Interviewing? — Stephen Rollnick (Psychwire)Engaging With a Distressed Client — David Rosengren (Psychwire)