Training and Professional Development

Dr John Forbes is an experienced and highly regarded trainer, and has taught in both undergraduate and postgraduate university settings. He is an engaging speaker, who is very much focused on ensuring positive outcomes from the courses and seminars he presents.

If you would like to be kept informed about upcoming training and professional development opportunities, please complete the form at the bottom of this page.

MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING

Motivational Interviewing is a technique that is used wherever a person’s behaviours need to change as part of the treatment process. It can be defined as a directive, client-centred approach for eliciting behaviour change by helping clients to explore and resolve ambivalence. It is inappropriate to think of motivational interviewing as a technique or set of techniques that are applied to or (worse) "used on" people. Rather, it is an interpersonal style, not at all restricted to formal counselling settings. It is a subtle balance of directive and client-centred components, shaped by an understanding of what triggers change in a person. The Motivational Interviewing workshop covers:

  • Motivation

  • Motivational Approaches

  • Efficacy of Brief Interventions

  • Ambivalence

  • Principles of Motivational Interviewing

  • Applying the Principles

  • Building Motivation for Change

  • Strengthening Commitment

  • Session Content and Management

Participants can expect to gain an understanding of Motivational Interviewing and practical skills that can immediately be applied in their day-to-day interactions with patients and clients.

CRISIS MANAGEMENT

If you are involved in a primary care setting, you are probably often approached by people experiencing a crisis. John has developed a short half-day seminar that provides information to help you best respond to people in need. It includes:

  • What is a crisis?

  • Risk factors and personal characteristics

  • Typical responses

  • Crisis support

  • Psychological First Aid

  • Practical techniques

The seminar presents methods to further develop your crisis management and intervention skills in order to provide support, minimise the usage of maladaptive coping strategies, and avoid later psychological problems.

INTERESTED?

John is able to provide training and professional development to groups and organisations, on request, and also occasionally offers public seminars. Please contact him at john@deltapsychology.com if you would like to discuss the possibility of him providing this training.