Sabine Schmid

University of Minnesota, United States

Title: Interprofessional Crucial Conversations Skills: A Half-Day Training for Preceptors in Academic Psychiatry

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Biography

Sabine P. Schmid, PhD, LP, is a clinical psychologist and Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at the University of Minnesota. She is a core faculty member in the Mood Disorders Program, where her work focuses on advancing innovative, interdisciplinary approaches to the treatment of depression.

Her research centers on integrating cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with emerging biological interventions, with the goal of enhancing outcomes through thoughtful, evidence-based collaboration across disciplines. Her clinical practice is grounded in CBT and enriched by mindfulness- and acceptance-based approaches, reflecting her commitment to compassionate, individualized care.

A dedicated educator, She is deeply committed to training the next generation of clinicians. She directs the department’s Behavioral Sciences Education programming and leads interprofessional education initiatives, fostering collaborative skills and excellence in team-based mental health care.

Abstract

Seminar summary:

This seminar describes the University of Minnesota Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences’ response to identified communication gaps in interprofessional practice. It reviews the design, implementation, and evaluation of a Crucial Conversations retreat for supervisors, outcome data demonstrating positive impact, and plans to adapt the workshop for learners.

Three keywords that describe characteristics of the session:

Interprofessional Education; Interprofessional Communication; Crucial Conversations

Seminar Description:

This seminar highlights the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Minnesota (UMN) Medical School’s decade-long commitment to strengthening its interprofessional education (IPE) workforce. At the 2025 Scholar Conference, I shared findings from a half-day workshop for faculty focused on interprofessional collaborative practice. Participant feedback identified communication – particularly conflict-related communication – as a relative area of weakness compared with other IPEC competencies.

In response, the Department designed, implemented, and evaluated an Interprofessional Education Retreat aimed at strengthening interprofessional communication skills. This seminar will describe that programmatic response in detail.

On April 30, 2025, the UMN Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences hosted a half-day retreat for Behavioral Sciences supervisors, including psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, employment and education specialists, and peer support specialists. The retreat focused on Crucial Conversations skills within an interprofessional context. Supervisors were selected as the target audience not only because they practice within interprofessional teams, but also because they are responsible for preparing learners to function effectively in team-based healthcare environments. The retreat emphasized helping clinical supervisors recognize and examine assumptions that may undermine effective interprofessional collaboration. Addressing such assumptions supports the aim of enhancing team functioning – an essential factor in improving quality of care, patient outcomes, patient experience, and provider satisfaction and retention.

The seminar will proceed in four parts. First, we will outline key considerations in the retreat’s conception and planning, including decisions regarding format, logistics, and audience. Second, we will review the event agenda, including an overview of the Crucial Conversations curriculum with particular emphasis on the “Master My Stories” module. This component encourages participants to identify beliefs and biases that may negatively influence high-stakes interactions. We will demonstrate an active learning exercise used during the retreat to reinforce this skill.

Third, presenters will review outcome data collected from a subset of participants (15 of 20) following the 2025 retreat. Findings indicate an overwhelmingly positive response: 100% of respondents reported intent to participate in future interprofessional education activities, and the majority reported increased knowledge of – and confidence in engaging in – crucial conversations, as well as intention to apply these skills in their professional roles.

Finally, we will discuss next steps, including plans to adapt the workshop for learners in 2026. Building on participant feedback, the revised format will retain the interactive structure while incorporating additional considerations relevant to trainees, such as power differentials and vulnerability within supervisory and team relationships.