Todd & Melanie provide training nationally,
but they call Buffalo, NY home.

 
Logo for Sage Training & Consulting, LLC, featuring sage green speech bubbles, a leaf motif, and the tagline Trauma-Informed Motivational Interviewing.

I'm Todd, and I lead the work at Sage Training and Consulting, joined by my co-lead Justine O'Brien, LMSW. I am also a Clinical Associate Professor at the University at Buffalo School of Social Work, a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT), and have trained hundreds of child welfare professionals across multiple states. After more than 25 years of partnership with my late wife Melanie, who shaped this work alongside me, I continue to bring the same approach to every training and consultation: professional curiosity, humor, vulnerability, care for the people we work with, and a commitment to lifelong learning.

Justine joined Sage Training and Consulting as a Motivational Interviewing trainer in 2022 and brings deep clinical experience in substance use disorder treatment, criminal court social work, and group facilitation. She is a recipient of the Julian Sojda Memorial Award, has taught in the University at Buffalo School of Social Work and in CASAC training programs, and has co-presented with us on trauma-informed motivational interviewing at the Title IV-E National Round Table. Her work is grounded in trauma-informed care, harm reduction, and meeting people where they are.

In training, we nudge participants toward thinking bigger about what drives human behavior, encourage and cajole participation and practice, and help people identify their own reasons for becoming better helpers. We try to see the humanity in everyone we work with and model this for the people in the room.

Our approach is informed by cultural humility, and practices that are humanistic, client-centered, and trauma-informed. We understand the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences and other Social Determinants of Health, including poverty and racism.

We love this work, and we believe in the power of motivational interviewing to change practice, and through that, to change the lives of the people and communities our partner organizations serve.

 

Todd Sage,
PhD, MSW

Todd a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers. He is a college professor and licensed drug and alcohol counselor in New York. He teaches graduate classes in Motivational Interviewing, social work practice, and other practice skills, both on campus and online. Todd’s doctoral dissertation focused on organizational and delivery variables that impact Motivational Interviewing learning.

His practice experience includes work in substance abuse counseling, domestic violence, with law enforcement, child welfare, and with Veterans. He is currently involved in research and workforce development with child welfare workers.

Trained Professional Coach

Justine O’Brien, LMSW

Justine has been a social worker since 2006 and an MI trainer since 2018. She serves as a lead trainer at Sage Training and Consulting and brings deep clinical experience in substance use disorder treatment, criminal court social work, and group facilitation. She has worked across community-based, court-involved, and academic settings.

She is passionate about meeting people where they are and helping practitioners build the skills to do the same. She is a recipient of the Julian Sojda Memorial Award and has taught in the University at Buffalo School of Social Work and in CASAC training programs. Her direct practice experience includes work with people navigating substance use, the criminal legal system, harm reduction services, and group treatment. She has co-presented with us on trauma-informed motivational interviewing at the Title IV-E National Round Table and is grounded in harm reduction, trauma-informed care, and culturally humble practice.

 

Implementation Practice

 
 
National Implementation Research Network implementation drivers model helps explain evidence about factors that contribute to fidelity

National Implementation Research Network implementation drivers model helps explain evidence about factors that contribute to fidelity

Implementation Practice

Training alone isn’t enough: lasting change requires Implementation Practice. This approach uses research-based strategies to ensure evidence-based practices like Motivational Interviewing (MI) take root and stay strong over time.

Our Implementation Practice Facilitators work with agencies to design supports that build and maintain fidelity—the degree to which a practice is delivered as intended. In MI, for example, fidelity tools like the Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity (MITI) form assess whether practitioners are using MI with competence.

Strategies to strengthen fidelity may include:

  • Assessing the barriers and facilitators to support MI practice

  • Hiring staff whose skills and values align with the practice

  • Ensuring policies, workflows, and forms support the EBP

  • Providing ongoing training, coaching, and feedback

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