The Invitation to Change Approach

This 1-hour talk introduces the Invitation to Change (ITC), a model built to provide accessible and impactful practices to anyone in a helping role––be that a family member, peer support, or professional. Blending principles and practices found in three evidence-based approaches for supporting change, the ITC offers guidance on how to use them in a common language: not only to make helpers more effective but also to increase their capacity and willingness to support a person struggling with substance use.

Dr. Nicole KosankeAbout the Presenter: Dr. Nicole Kosanke is a licensed clinical psychologist with 20 years of experience, and works as the Director of Family Services at the Center for Motivation and Change in their outpatient division in NYC, where she specializes in the assessment and treatment of substance use disorders in individuals and families. She co-authored the award-winning book, Beyond Addiction: How Science and Kindness Help People Change, which is a compassionate and science-based family guide for navigating the addiction treatment world, understanding motivation, and using CRAFT skills. She also contributed to The 20 Minute Guide: A Guide for Parents about How to Help their Child Change their Substance Use. She has been interviewed on radio programs and podcasts about substance use disorders, and her writing on these topics has also been featured in Huffington Post, The Observer, and Counselor Magazine. Dr. Kosanke also does trainings (like these!) for the Center for Motivation and Change's Foundation for Change, helping families respond to their loved one's substance use with evidence-based knowledge and compassion. She is a member of Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies and American Association of Addiction Psychiatrists.