Conference on How to Motivate Clients
It has taken some time for me to summarize my impressions of the conference “Effective Strategies for Working with Involuntary Clients” in Italy on May 23 – 25; an unusual conference on how to motivate clients. One reason for the delay is that it made a strong impression on me, and I needed some time to reflect on the adventure.
The conference took place at Monash University Prato Centre, situated in an old palace in the ancient city of Prato, Tuscany (see picture). The initiative to create the conference came from professor Ron Rooney, his wife professor Glenda Rooney, and professor Chris Trotter.
The Participants
Most of the participants came from the USA. We were only eight Europeans; six Dutch, one Belgian, and me, a Swede. One crucial thing about conferences is that you have the opportunity to meet many inspiring and exciting people. The initiators of the conference (the couple Rooney and professor Trotter) were very helpful in facilitating the get-together between participants.
The conference staff led by Ph. D. Traci Laliberte administered all the practical things and helped create a positive and motivating ambiance. Being in an old Italian palace and the excellent food also added to the inspiring atmosphere.
The Agenda
Each morning started with a keynote speaker, followed by sessions. Each session lasted one and a half hours and contained two presentations. All through the conference, three different sessions were going on simultaneously, so as a participant, you had to choose between them. After lunch on Wednesday and Friday, you also had a keynote speaker.
During the afternoons the sessions with presentations continued. There were also activities in the evenings. Wednesday night, a reception was arranged at a terrasse in the palace, and Thursday night many of the participants including me went to dine at a restaurant nearby the university.
My Presentation
My presentation took place Friday morning at the conference on how to motivate clients. The title was “Motivational Work: Everyone can be motivated”. According to my own experience, it went very well. The most challenging thing was to restrict me to the time limit of 45 minutes. There was a facilitator in the back of the room. She showed signs indicating how much time there was left, 15, 10, and 5 minutes. The days before my presentation, I did not feel that stressed out. Still, it was a relief when it had been done.
Coming Home
For me personally, it was a very emotional experience to take part in the event. We were 110 participants, and we had something special in common. All of us were committed to helping clients unwilling to accept help. I felt that I had come home and was surrounded by colleagues sharing the same fundamental values.
Many of us had had the same experience of using methods build on the psychotherapeutic paradigm. Unfortunately, most clients from the social services, the penal system, and psychiatry cannot be met this way. It just does not work with these methods. You must create new strategies and applications.
Significant Findings of Motivation
Besides the company of colleagues, the themes in the keynotes and presentations had a great impact on me. Over and over again, it was confirmed through research and clinical experience that the crucial factor in helping involuntary clients is establishing an emotional relationship. It further reinforced the paradigm of motivational work and my own experience. The unmotivated client is beyond methods. Firstly, you have to build a bridge of trust before you can use any techniques.
The Anthology
Just before the conference, the anthology “Strategies for work with involuntary clients”, edited by professor Ron Rooney and assistant professor Rebecca G. Mirick, had just been published. The publishing company, Columbia University Press, sent 20 copies to the conference. They were later raffled to participants. Because eight of the authors (including me) were present at the conference, all the books could be signed by us.
Being in Prato
Being at the conference was a very intense time for me. One consequence was that I did not have the opportunity or the energy for sightseeing in Prato. The surroundings were more like pieces of scenery. Maybe I will have the possibility to revisit the beautiful town, Prato, on another occasion.
The homepage of the Conference
You will find information about the conference on this link. There you can also read summaries of the keynote speakers and presenters.