Talking To Change - A Motivational Interviewing Podcast - Ep 92 – Motivational Interviewing in Oncology Cancer Care

Sunday, December 7, 2025

Summary

Episode 92 – Motivational Interviewing in Oncology Cancer Care

Glenn and Sebastian were excited to have Dr. Maya Obadia on the podcast to discuss MI in oncology cancer care. Maya is a Registered Psychotherapist and a Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) certified MI trainer. She is currently a Lecturer in Kinesiology and Psychology at the University of Guelph-Humber, an affiliate of the ELLICSR Cancer and Survivorship Centre at UHN, and Director of Maya Obadia Training and Psychotherapy. Her expertise is in MI for behaviour change in populations with chronic disease. Maya has received her doctorate from the Institute of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, and training at Sickkids in Toronto where she developed a MI training program for primary care physicians to use when treating children with obesity. Maya’s post doctoral fellowship training in the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, and at UHN, paved the way for use of MI as an integral part of Cancer Rehabilitation and Survivorship at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Maya continues to be involved in curriculum writing, training and research in oncology and health related programs. She has authored research papers and book chapters. Maya continues to consult with various research institutions and non profit supporting programs and curriculums in health behaviour change. Maya offers a variety or programming and trainings both in person and online as well as speaking engagements.

Episode index:

0:00 – Episode intro

5:39 – Maya’s introduction and early MI story

12:00 – Ambivalence in Oncology

17:37 – Effective information giving using Elicit-Provide-Elicit (or Ask-Offer-Ask)

22:10 – Supporting a person with changing needs throughout their cancer treatment

28:15 – System-wide implementation of MI

39:10 – The use of important and confidence rulers

49:00 – Trusting the MI process: “MIsting the plants”

60:50 – Maya preparing for future trainings and travel

53:53 – End of episode

Links and resources:

Email: maya@mayaobadia.com

Website: http://mayaobadia.com/

Instagram: @drmayaphd

CANO publication:

https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.cano-acio.ca/resource/resmgr/survivorship_modules/SurvMod_Unit_10-ENG-Sample.pdf

Relevant Citations

Ritvo P, Obadia M, Santa Mina D, Alibhai S, Sabiston C, Oh P, Campbell K, McCready D, Auger L, Jones JM. Smartphone-Enabled Health Coaching Intervention (iMOVE) to Promote Long-Term Maintenance of Physical Activity in Breast Cancer Survivors: Protocol for a Feasibility Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Res Protoc. 2017 Aug 24;6(8):e165. doi: 10.2196/resprot.6615. PMID: 28838886; PMCID: PMC5590009.

MacDonald AM, Chafranskaia A, Lopez CJ, Maganti M, Bernstein LJ, Chang E, Langelier DM, Obadia M, Edwards B, Oh P, Bender JL, Alibhai SM, Jones JM. CaRE @ Home: Pilot Study of an Online Multidimensional Cancer Rehabilitation and Exercise Program for Cancer Survivors. J Clin Med. 2020 Sep 25;9(10):3092. doi: 10.3390/jcm9103092. PMID: 32992759; PMCID: PMC7600555.

Flora PK, Lopez P, Mina DS, Jones JM, Brawley LR, Sabiston CM, Ferguson SE, Obadia MM, Auger LE. Feasibility and acceptability of a group-mediated exercise intervention for gynecological cancer survivors. J Psychosoc Oncol. 2022;40(6):770-789. doi: 10.1080/07347332.2021.1939474. Epub 2021 Jun 29. PMID: 34185628.