After more than 20 years working in behavioral health and mental health, I have learned that some of the most challenging behaviors we see are often the behaviors we understand the least. In this 90-minute interactive workshop, I will take a practical look at how stress, trauma, brain functioning, emotional regulation, cravings, and mental health can influence the way people think, communicate, and make decisions. My goal is to connect the research to what professionals experience every day with clients. Participants will explore how to look beyond behaviors such as anger, resistance, avoidance, relapse, or disengagement and ask, “What might be happening underneath this behavior?” We will also look at how our own words, assumptions, and reactions can either build connection or unintentionally create more resistance. Participants will learn to identify at least three ways stress and trauma can affect behavior and decision-making, recognize language that may increase stigma or resistance, and use practical trauma-informed and motivational interviewing strategies to improve difficult conversations. I will use real-life examples, case scenarios, audience participation, brief activities, humor, and role-play to keep the session engaging and relevant. One activity will challenge participants to “reframe” common statements we hear in behavioral health and consider what the client may actually be hearing. We will also discuss realistic situations involving relapse, emotional dysregulation, resistance, and difficult interactions and work together to identify different ways of responding. I want participants to leave with more than information. I want them to leave with a different way of looking at behavior, a few new tools they can use immediately, and a renewed sense of why the work we do matters.