Transformation specialist
Sally is a 41 year-old female with a history of unsuccessful weight loss attempts. In the past, Sally has tried “almost every diet known to man” and now wants to lose “at least fifty pounds” and “stop fighting with myself”. Sally lives alone, and works as an accountant. Her hobbies include reading, spending time with her cat, and shopping. She describes her life as “pretty isolated” and rates her happiness at a 4 out of 10. She explains that when trying to change her behavior, she usually “falls off the bandwagon after a few days”, and describes herself as “stuck”. She has no history of injuries or preclusions to exercise and has recently had a clean physical exam, with the exception of needing to lose weight. Describe what approach you would take with Sally to help her change her behavior. Please include your rationale for your approach along with the measurement protocol you would use and the outcomes you would hope to achieve.
Sample Solution
My approach to helping Sally change her behavior would be to first establish a sense of trust and security with her. Building a strong rapport and creating an open line of communication are essential for progress, as she needs to feel comfortable enough to discuss any obstacles that may come up during the process. To foster this relationship I will use active listening techniques such as paraphrasing and reflecting back when appropriate.
The next step in my approach is to gather information on Sally’s lifestyle behaviors related to physical activity, nutrition, sleep, stress management and overall wellbeing. This can be done by utilizing questionnaires such as the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q) or International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). As well, I will have Sally track her food intake using a dietary diary in order for me to gain insight into what foods she is consuming on a daily basis. This data collection protocol allows us to assess possible barriers that could prevent success before implementing strategies for making changes.
Once we have identified key areas where change needs to occur in order for Sally achieve long-term results, we can start setting tangible goals together which are SMART: specific, measurable, achievable/attainable/action oriented, relevant/realistic and time bound. We can also co-create solutions together that take into account any environmental or social factors which might influence her ability to meet these goals; this way it becomes easier for us both decide what action steps will be most effective at helping her reach success while still being manageable within the context of her current lifestyle.
For example if one of our goals was increasing physical activity level , we could brainstorm solutions such as taking walks around the neighbourhood after work 4 times per week or finding an affordable gym membership near home so she has equipment available at all times . Furthermore , I would provide resources such as exercise tutorials online via Youtube or other fitness sites so she has access even when not meeting face-to-face with me .
In addition , I would recommend breaking down larger behaviours into smaller more attainable components that are easier for Sally implement immediately without feeling overwhelmed . For instance , rather than focusing solely on caloric reduction initially we might focus on small improvements like replacing sugary drinks with water each day . Having these incremental steps makes it feasible and sustainable over time .
To measure the effectiveness of our interventions , tracking tools such as goal logs , workout journals etc should be used consistently throughout our sessions together . These tools give us an idea about how far along Sally is towards reaching our end goal so that adjustments can be made quickly if needed . Additionally if necessary psychological measures like self reports scales ( i e satisfaction scale )or psychometric tests including The Body Image Test & Eating Attitudes Test 26 could help gauge levels of motivation or identify potential underlying issues hindering progress which need further exploration like body image dissatisfaction etc – but only upon consultation & agreement from both parties involved in therapy ..
Overall my aim is that through engaging in collaborative conversations around behaviour change strategies over several sessions ,Sally’s quality of life improves significantly leading up until proper maintenance phase once desired outcomes are achieved i e losing at least fifty pounds & gaining better control over eating habits - ultimately becoming more confident about herself & happy about how she looks & feels