How do we find hope in the current global landscape?

In this episode of Compassion in a T-Shirt, I sit down with psychologist and motivational interviewing trainer Denise Ernst for a thoughtful and deeply human conversation about hope — what it is, where it comes from, and why it may be one of the most important yet under-discussed elements of motivational interviewing.

Denise describes hope not simply as optimism or positive thinking, but as a kind of living energy that exists alongside compassion, empathy, and love. We explore the idea that hope is not something we “install” into people, but something we help call forth — something already present, even beneath despair, trauma, or self-doubt.

Together we discuss deep listening, the fixing reflex, change talk and “hope talk,” the role of equanimity, and how motivational interviewing creates the conditions for hope to emerge through partnership, acceptance, compassion, and empowerment. Denise also reflects on the importance of practitioners staying connected to their own “wellspring” of hope through self-awareness, self-compassion, nature, meditation, yoga, and intentional practice.

This conversation moves beyond therapy techniques into something broader and more universal: how we remain connected to goodness, meaning, and possibility in difficult times.

[If you enjoyed this conversation, please consider subscribing to the channel, sharing the episode, or leaving a review on your podcast app — it really helps more people discover these conversations on compassion, psychology, and human wellbeing.]

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

01:53 What Is Hope?

05:34 Calling Forth What Is Already There

08:46 Trauma, Threat, and Dormant Hope

11:19 Discovering Your Own Wellspring of Hope

16:00 Hope as a Practice

20:39 MI Spirit, Presence, and Deep Listening

24:32 Listening for “Hope Talk”

30:29 The Fixing Reflex and Backfire

35:34 Equanimity and Holding Both Hope and Despair

36:10 Hope, Compassion, and the Prism Metaphor

42:00 Motivational Interviewing as Human Connection

45:41 Self-Compassion for Practitioners

47:59 Hope in Difficult Times

53:15 Final Reflections

Links:

Dr Denise Ernst’s website:

https://deniseernst.com/

If you would like to learn more about compassion focused therapy, you can find Dr Stan Steindl's book The Gifts of Compassion here: https://www.ausapress.com/p/the-gifts-of-compassion-how-to-understand-and-overcome-suffering/

Say hi on social:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drstansteindl

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/StanSteindl

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_stan_steindl/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stan-steindl-150a5264/

Website: https://www.stansteindl.com/

YouTube Video URL: https://youtu.be/zHZ5Caru0aA

*Affiliate Disclaimer: Note this description contains affiliate links that allow you to find the items mentioned in this video and support the channel at no cost to you. While this channel may earn minimal sums when the viewer uses the links, the viewer is in no way obligated to use these links. Thank you for your support!

Video hashtags:

motivationalinterviewing, hope, compassion, selfcompassion, psychotherapy, mentalhealth