Women for Sobriety is excited to announce the final workshop in our series of educational offerings for 2026 - Success Planning and Guiding Others to Succeed. In place of an annual conference or seminar, we are hosting quarterly virtual events, designed to be informative, engaging and inspiring! 

About the Workshop

Behavior change is a process that requires motivation, confidence, skills, and support. This workshop introduces participants to the principles and practices of Motivational Interviewing (MI), an evidence-based approach for strengthening motivation and commitment to change. Through a combination of research, discussion, practical tools, and experiential activities, participants will learn how to guide themselves and others toward positive outcomes.

Participants will explore the stages of change, the role of change talk and sustain talk, strategies for increasing self-efficacy, and methods for aligning interventions with an individual's readiness for change. The session also introduces the GUIDES framework—Guidance, Unbiased, Interactive, Deliberate, Empathic, and Strength-Based approaches as a model for fostering productive, person-centered conversations. Within this framework, there are six microskills and six traps to avoid that can help guide conversations towards change. Special attention will be given to building motivation, developing practical success plans, and responding to setbacks in ways that promote learning and long-term growth.

Learning Objectives

• Describe the core principles and spirit of Motivational Interviewing.
• Differentiate between stages of change and identify stage-appropriate interventions. 
• Recognize and elicit change talk that supports lasting behavioral change.
• Develop practical strategies to increase motivation, self-efficacy, and support long-term success.

Kelly Pitocco brings more than three decades of experience helping people create lasting change. She is a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW), Licensed Independent Chemical Dependency Counselor (LICDC), and Senior Research Associate with the University of Cincinnati Corrections Institute. Throughout her career she has worked in addiction treatment, drug courts, residential programs, and community corrections, while training professionals across the country in evidence-based approaches to recovery and behavior change. Kelly specializes in Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Interventions, and helping individuals develop practical skills that support lasting recovery.

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