Shawn Adame, MA, LMHC, MHP, NCC
“Ironically, what originally drew me to helping others was the belief that if I could just share what had worked for me—what led to growth and joy in my own life—then others could simply follow the same path and experience the same results. I thought the key was communicating my own blueprint for change. But I was quickly humbled in graduate school when I learned that counseling isn’t about advice-giving. It’s about creating space for others to find their own path—the one that’s right for them. That mindset shift was transformative. I came to understand that I am not the expert in someone else’s life; they are. People often hold the answers within themselves—they just need the right environment to uncover them.
When I attended my first Motivational Interviewing training in 2017, it felt like everything clicked. MI gave me a framework that aligned perfectly with my new mindset—a way to communicate that was both effective and respectful of a person’s autonomy. I’ve never seen myself as an exceptional helper, but when I began using MI, my client outcomes improved significantly. The feedback I received was powerful—people who had been in therapy for years were telling me that this was unlike anything they had ever experienced. That’s when I knew I had found something meaningful—not just for myself, but for the people I work with every day”.
Shawn has nearly a decade of experience working in both private and community mental health settings. His journey with Motivational Interviewing (MI) began in 2017, and since then, he has immersed himself in the method through ongoing trainings, books, videos, podcasts, subscriptions, websites, and any extracurricular opportunities he can find.
Driven by a passion for growth and fidelity to the approach, Shawn began submitting recorded sessions to be coded using the Motivational Interviewing Competency Assessment (MICA), receiving individualized coaching to further develop his skills. His dedication led him to complete a Train-the-Trainer program at his former community mental health agency, where he provided MI training to staff.
Most recently, Shawn was invited to attend the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) Training of New Trainers (TNT), marking a significant milestone in his continued journey as an MI practitioner and trainer.
Shawn has been involved in and provided Motivational Interviewing training to professionals and organizations in:
• Healthcare
• Mental health
• Corrections/Prisons
• Law enforcement
• Family services
• Child welfare
