Mentored Activity: Apply Techniques for Health Behavior Change

Mentored Activity

Work with your mentor to apply what you learned about motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, and positive psychology techniques in the field 

  1. As a primary care health worker, you probably have several patients who could benefit from lifestyle changes. Choose a personable receptive patient with lifestyle-related issues such as obesity, sedentary lifestyle, smoking, etc. If you are not actively working in a clinic, you may choose a friend or relative for the entire project.

  2. Use the 5-A model to define the stage of change - your ideal patient should be between the ‘contemplation’ and the ‘preparation’ stages.

  3. Introduce the patient to the project and ask for his consentment to join this journey to improve his/her health but also your skills.

  4. Ask what he/she would like to change? This personal decision predicts a higher adherence to the process of change. This is an opportunity to prepare a mutual agenda to keep the patient active and enthusiastic.

  5. Prepare an ACTION PLAN according to S.M.A.R.T. principles and start working on it. Remember to choose one small step at the time, large steps will increase the probability of failure.

  6. Apply the key principles of motivational interviewing.

  7. Make sure to elicit and explore patients' motivations for a change.

  8. Practice some of the CBT techniques you learned in this lesson.

  9. Make sure to use the four techniques for integrating positive psychology(Reverse, develop, Balance, Build)

  10. Take notes during the meeting.

  11. Write a 250-500 words summary of your notes and ask for your mentor’s reflections on it.

  12. Submit your assignment below and let your mentor know that it is ready for their review and grading. 

For this assignment, you need to use a broad set of tools and techniques. There is not a specific order for them, so make sure to maintain a good conversation flow and use sample questions if you need them. 

Before this meeting, you can practice to include some calibrated questions and statements with your relatives in daily interactions to provide better results to your patient.