1. Solutions – Level II Training Session 5: Shaping Conversations

2. What has inspired you in the last few days?
Ask for a volunteer. Track who does leads this discussion so everyone has a turn. Use this question to set a tone for the group.

3. Facilitate a group discussion:
If you chose videos, what did you watch? What did you learn, relearn or be surprised by?
If you read the Tell Me More, what caught your eye?
What did you discover in doing the exercise about a difficult client?
What session topic did you decide to do?
What did you find interesting as you got into this session topic materials?
Ask for another volunteer. Ask this person to lead a discussion using these questions to prompt discussion. Encourage them to ask the questions listed. This is the main review of concepts, so be prepared to help with this conversation. Permit 20 minutes for the first two slides and then another 10 minutes for debriefing. Keep your eye on FLF!

4. Goals are to shape conversations so they:
Have a productive flow and focus
Lead to greater clarity of values and goals
Members invest in their plans to change
Great groups (and group sessions) don’t just happen

5. Shaping group conversations – Basic skills
Eliciting discussion
Establishing, developing and holding focus
Changing focus

6. Shaping group conversations – Advanced skills
Change the Momentum
Change the Breadth
Change the Depth

7. Shaping group conversations – Advanced skills
Change the Momentum:
Accelerating Tools
Open questions about change; continuing the paragraph reflections; affirmations; group brainstorming
Decelerating Tools
Suggesting a slowing down; exploring related, secondary theme; use an exercise – work in small groups; linking reflections; exploring potential obstacles to change and back-up plans
When?
Accelerating: After initial exploration, focus on the past or failure to link ideas to choices
Decelerating: Skipping over difficult subjects, overconfidence
Exercise:
Pairs or threes (have two counselors or observer and counselor)
Talker – Most recent vacation or a memorable one
Counselor – work to accelerate and decelerate the conversation
Allow go for 5 to 6 minutes
Debrief in small groups
Debrief as a large group
DO NOT SWITCH ROLES

8. Shaping group conversations – Advanced skills
Change the Breadth:
Broadening Tools
Linking summaries; open questions; use imagery, analogies or metaphors; elicit-provide-elicit
Narrowing Tools
Targeted open questions; closed questions; selective reflections
When?
Broadening: too focused on details, limited perspective, mandated referral
Narrowing: multifaceted issue, vague talk about issues, principles or values discussion not linked to change
Exercise:
Pairs or threes (have two counselors or observer and counselor)
Talker – Health behavior change would like, but have not yet made or use the vacation question again
Counselor – work to accelerate and decelerate the conversation
Allow go for 5 minutes
Debrief in small groups
Debrief as a large group
DO NOT SWITCH ROLES

9. Shaping group conversations – Advanced skills
Change the Depth:
Deepening Tools
Affective reflections; value reflections; affirmations
Lightening Tools
Closing summary; shifting focus; linking reflections; using humor (appropriately)
When?
Deepening: ready to share more, too focused on surface, lack emotional attachment, stuck in ambivalence
Lightening: closing session or ending group, mood becomes too heavy or intense, conflict emerges

10. Tips
What’s the difference between facilitate and control in a Solutions group?
How do you manage it when the Take Away or other assignments aren’t done?
How do you close sessions well?
Here are some additional thoughts for closing sessions well:
Leave enough time
Use the group to identify take homes
Indicate whether things are done or will be picked up next time
Ensure sensitive areas have been closed up
Provide Take Away tasks

11. Traps One person dominates, including the facilitator
Getting caught in conversation content
Not using the images or the outline
Adhering tightly to the Session Topic

12. Practicing Skills Session Topic: Volunteer (or draw names) Debrief:
Three to five minutes
Open the Session Topic, after checking in
Use OARS
Debrief:
2 minutes
What drew you in as a participant or facilitator?
Actionable feedback?
What went well?
Repeat as time permits

13. Building Motivational Interviewing Skills Practice Activity
Video:
Preparation/Global Training/General Treatment Issues/Lessons Learned
Building Motivational Interviewing Skills
Chapter 6. Managing Resistance, pp 137 – 152
Practice Activity
Exercise 6.1, 6.2 or 6.3
Tapes submitted by next time!
Posttest…