Course type
One-day, face-to-face course.
Who attended?
This course was developed for disability workers, community service workers and case managers who provide support to people who have cognitive disability, and have contact with the criminal justice system. It provided a broad introduction to purposeful conversations with people about change and was best suited to workers who have some experience and knowledge of foundation counselling skills.
Course Description
The purpose of this workshop was to focus on supporting people to make changes in their lives within the scope of the Disability Justice Project.
Change is a challenge for everyone, but particularly those living with the impact of cognitive disability. Change is critical to breaking the cycle of offending and the behaviours, choices and circumstances that can perpetuate involvement with the criminal justice system.
Over the past few decades there has been a shift away from more directive, paternalistic and sometimes punitive approaches in the disabilities, mental health, and alcohol and drug contexts towards a greater emphasis on person-centred, motivational approaches – in other words, a move away from “doing for” to “working with” (Slade, 2009).
The ‘Therapeutic Approaches to Guiding Change within Disability Justice’ workshop largely focused on two approaches, aimed at supporting people to make choices that have significantly impacted on the way in which change is approached and supported in a range of settings.
Initially, this workshop focused on the principles underpinning recovery and recovery-oriented practice, principles which parallel the move towards person-centred practice in the disabilities context. Whilst having its origins in the mental health context, there is a growing movement towards applying recovery-oriented approaches in a range of other contexts such as intellectual and learning disabilities, forensic mental health, AOD and acquired brain injury.
Secondly, the workshop focused on the use of motivational interviewing (MI) as an evidence-based approach for guiding people who are struggling with change. MI is underpinned by humanistic principles and utilises person-centred strategies. There is a growing body of work that supports the use and adaption of MI when working with people living with the impact of cognitive impairment. There is also a rapidly expanding adoption of the use of MI in correctional settings.
Ultimately the purpose of this workshop was to focus on approaches, strategies and skills for effectively supporting people to make choices, to navigate the process of change and to break the cycle of involvement with the criminal justice system.
By the end of this one-day workshop, participants were expected to be able to:
- Explain the principles of recovery and how these principles apply to the disabilities context
- Describe recovery-oriented practice and how recovery approaches can be utilised when working with people living with cognitive impairments
- Discuss the spirit and processes of motivational interviewing as an effective approach for guiding people to change
- Explain how motivational interviewing can be adapted and applied when working with a range of people involved with the criminal justice system
- Demonstrate strategies for supporting people to change
Course materials
- The following course materials were provided and are available for download:
Therapeutic Approaches to Guiding Change – Facilitators Guide (to provide the trainer with how the course was to be delivered)
Therapeutic Approaches to Guiding Change – Participant’s Notes (for the attendees to take away)
Therapeutic Approaches to Guiding Change – PowerPoint Slides
- Links to Videos used During the Course:
TRUE RECOVERY – A Call To Mental Health Workers
Wurrimiyangas (Nguiu) holistic approach to mental health
William Miller on motivational interviewing
Motivational Interviewing – An M.I. Learning Resource