Motivational interviewing and harm reduction with youth

Motivational interviewing and harm reduction with youth

Presented by SickKids CCMH Learning Institute

Date: March 2, 2026
Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET
Facilitator: Joanna Seel, MSW, and Adina Hauser, MSW, RSW  

Description: This training will focus on evidence-based interventions geared towards youth who use substances. It will provide background and instruction on therapeutic techniques for increasing youth engagement and strategies for addressing substance use concerns - in particular motivational interviewing, harm reduction, and the transtheoretical model. Participants will engage in self-reflection and will provide the space for live role plays, as well as live discussion opportunities.

"Motivating young people to change can be incredibly challenging. This day-long training will explore practical skills in motivational interviewing with a strong focus on what works, and what doesn’t work, when engaging youth who use substances." - Adina Hauser, MSW, RSW.

Learning objectives:

• Identify the unique needs of youth who use substances.
• Gain familiarity with the stages of change model and how it pertains to intervention with youth. 
• Acquire harm reduction strategies to engage youth more effectively. 
• Leave with case formulation and motivational interviewing strategies that will assist them in their clinical work with young people.

Registration fee: General - $300 |  Student and group rates are available 

For full program overview and registration details please visit: https://cvent.me/nyQ8Gg

Facilitator Bios:

Joanna Seel, MSW, Joanne is a clinical social worker with experience working in the area of youth mental health and substance use. For over ten years, Joanna has worked as an individual, group, and family therapist focused on supporting young people with concurrent concerns. She currently works with young adults who have long standing involvement in the criminal justice system as a result of substance use concerns.

Joanne completed her Masters of Social Work at Michigan State University, with specialized certification in addictions and family therapy. Areas of expertise include narrative therapy, motivational interviewing and emotionally focused therapy. 
Joanne has developed several group curriculums for youth, adults, and caregivers. Joanne has consulted with outpatient and inpatient programs in Ontario as they develop group programming for young people with substance use concerns. She has given presentations and trainings particularly focused on the complexities of supporting youth and families with mental health, trauma and substance use concerns. 

Adina Hauser, MSW, RSW has over 15 years of experience working as an individual, group and family therapist for youth and young adults aged 14-25 with concurrent mental health and substance use concerns. Adina has also worked with young people experiencing their first episode of psychosis and their families. Currently, Adina is the Manager of Child & Youth Health Services at Michael Garron Hospital.

Adina completed a Bachelors of Arts (Honours) degree at the University of King’s College and a Masters of Social Work at the University of Toronto, as well as a post-graduate fellowship at the Garry Hurvitz Centre for Community Mental Health at SickKids (GH-CCMH), specializing in family therapy. Areas of expertise include trauma-focused therapies, family therapies, motivational interviewing, parent coaching, emotion dysregulation, and complex substance use disorders.

Adina has experience developing unique psychoeducational and therapeutic programming for both youth and families. Adina was one of the first facilitators of Family Connections in Toronto and has co-facilitated, trained and learned from so many peer parent/caregiver leaders over the years. Adina has given many presentations on the complexities of working with young people and families who have complex mental health/substance use concerns. Adina also provides regular consultation and supervision to social work students and teaches about family therapy to psychiatry residents.

Continuing Education (CE) information: 6 CE hours