Softening Sustain Talk & Cultivating Change Talk With Hillary Logan

In this episode of MI for Change, I’m joined by Hillary Logan, LCSW, MINT-certified trainer and founder of MI Center for Change, for a deep, practical conversation about sustain talk—or as Hillary calls it, “stuck talk.”

Together, we explore what sustain talk is really telling us about a client’s readiness, why it’s protective (not resistance), and how to soften sustain talk without amplifying it, while intentionally cultivating change talk.

We talk about:

• Why sustain talk isn’t the problem—but how we respond to it can be
• How softening sustain talk mirrors behavioral principles like differential reinforcement
• When reflecting sustain talk helps—and when it accidentally strengthens it
• Why silence feels so uncomfortable (and how to use it skillfully)
• How provider mindset, tone, and curiosity shape client outcomes
• Using the four processes of MI (engage, focus, evoke, plan) as an assessment tool when sessions feel “stuck”

This episode is especially helpful for clinicians who feel confident with OARS, but struggle with the technical side of MI—how to move sessions forward without fixing, pushing, or arguing.

🎧 Listen now and learn how to turn stuck moments into movement.

Resources Mentioned

• MI Center for Change: www.micenterforchange.com

Learn more about Motivational Interviewing and explore on-demand courses at www.drmonicagilbert.com

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