Clients - Are they ready to change?

What are counseling tips for the contemplation stage?

1. help resolve ambivalence 2. ask client to consider negative and positive consequences of not changing 3. ask client to consider negative and positive consequences of making a change 4. discuss any barriers

What are the stages of change? (include additional stages)

1. precontemplation 2. contemplation 3. preparation 4. action 5. maintenance -relapse -termination

What are counseling tips for the preparation stage?

1. provide education on proper behavior modification 2. direct client in making short-term goals (1-2 weeks) and how to accomplish them 3. identify barriers 4. reinforce to client that they have the skills to achieve goals 5. affirm that small steps result in success

What are sample verbal cues that a client is in preparation stage?

"I have to lose weight, and I am planning to do that"

What are sample verbal cues that a client is in contemplation stage?

"I need to lose weight but with all that's going on in my life right now, I'm not sure I can"

What is a sample verbal cues that a client is in action stage?

"I'm doing my best. This is harder than I thought"

What is a sample verbal cues that a client is in maintenance stage?

"I've learned a lot through this process"

What are sample verbal cues that a client is in pre-contemplation stage?

"i'm not really interested in weight loss" "it's not a problem"

What are counseling tips for the maintenance stage?

1. continue to make follow-up visits with client (helps to prevent relapse) 2. plan with client situations for a potential relapse 3. Continue to focus with client on benefits of change

What are the counselors goals?

1. determine how ready client is to work on their goal and behavior change 2. client's readiness to change determines how we approach him/her

What are counseling tips for the action stage?

1. help client make adjustments to stay on track 2. provide support and ask client about their support system 3. guide client to focus on long-term (more than six months) behavior change

What is the action stage?

-client is actively taking steps in setting their own goals -client is achieving goals, but for a brief period (less than six months)

What is the contemplation stage?

-client is considering making a change, but not right away -client knows behavior is a problem, but not ready to make changes

What is the preparation stage?

-client realizes benefits of making changes -client is getting ready to make a change soon

What is the maintenance stage?

-client successfully adopted positive behavior changes and goals -client has sustained changes for more than six months

What is the pre-contemplation stage?

-person is not ready to make a change -person does not see current behavior as a problem

What are the two approaches to using open ended questions?

1. Transtheoretical model 2. Motivational interviewing

What are ways to help identify priorities of a client?

1. Transtheoretical model 2. Motivational interviewing

What are ways to help move client towards effective goal setting and accomplishment?

1. Transtheoretical model 2. Motivational interviewing

What are counseling tips for the pre-contemplation stage?

1. acknowledge the client is not ready 2. accept that client may not think goals are important right now 3. affirm that this decision is entirely up to the client 4. encourage client to consider positive aspects of behavior change 5. increase self-awareness and give information

How do you determine the stage of change?

1. ask open-ended questions (client can speak freely) 2. listen carefully (reflective listening) 3. ask client how they feel about a particular behavior change 4. ask what they want to change or are willing to change

What are identifiers for the contemplation stage?

1. client aware of problem 2. client may even want to do something about problem and thinking of what to change 3. client has hurdles to overcome before making a change

What are identifiers for the pre-contemplation stage?

1. client denies having a problem 2. client makes excuses ("yes, but") 3. client blames others for his/her problem

What are identifiers for the preparation stage?

1. client feels a particular behavior change is important 2. client thinking how to change 3. client states they are ready to take action

What are identifiers for the action stage?

1. client is actively making behavior changes and setting goals 2. counselor and client have built a successful partnership

What are identifiers for the maintenance stage?

1. client is practicing new behavior and has not relapsed to previous behavior

What are the benefits of the transtheoretical model and motivaitonal interviewing?

1. client-focused or client-centered 2. helps identify priorities of a client 3. moves client towards effective goal setting and accomplishment

What stage might the client act ambivalent about behavior change?

Contemplation stage

The transtheoretical model is used to identify what?

How ready a person is to initiate behavior change

Why do problems occur when not assessing or utilizing readiness to change?

It is counterproductive. 1. Counselor may have own agenda 2. Counselor may make recommendations to provide advice 3. resist urge to use your expertise to "fix" client's problem

Does behavior change occur in one step?

No. Individuals progress through multiple stages to successful change.

Should you use your expertise to "fix" client's problem?

No. Resist this urge

What is the significance of staging?

Problems occur when not assessing or utilizing readiness to change.

What determines how we approach the client?

The client's readiness to change determines how we approach him/her

What helps a client in the maintenance stage from relapsing?

continuing to make follow-up visits with client

What helps a client in the action stage from relapsing?

guiding the client to focus on long-term (more than six months) behavior change

What is the key technique in determining behavior change and goal setting for a client?

using open ended questions