Coaching Discussion Paper

 

 

Please use the attached powerpoints to answer A and C questions about the following scenario.

Coaching Assignment

This assignment is intended to help develop, or further develop your skillsets as a change facilitator while working with others who perhaps recognize that they need to make a change, yet he appears unable to do so alone. Essentially, this will represent a primary task many of you will ultimately face repeatedly with patients or clients while working as an allied or medial health professional. Use this assignment as an opportunity to develop your ability to assemble your behavioral change intervention in an effective and systematic manner. In completing your assignment, please remember the over-arching ideas presented in the course surrounding rapport and communication provide experiential solutions.

Scenario:

Cody is a 34-year old, software engineer who works long hours seated as his computer. Subsequently he has developed a lot of dysfunction given what he does repeatedly and is experiencing chronic pain throughout his body. His company provided him with an ergonomic workstation, but his pain and discomfort continue, causing him to miss work and lose productivity. He has subsequently become frustrated and angry with his situation and is tired of wearing a back and wrist supports when he sits at his computer. He wishes he could exercise to be in better shape as he thinks this might help him alleviate some discomfort, but he has yet to start anything consistent on account of (a) a hectic schedule and (b) a lack of understanding of what he needs to do to avoid hurting himself further.

He is 25-pounds overweight according to his latest medical exam (BMI score), but he has no underlying pathologies other than a medical profile that is unhealthy for a 34-year old male (e.g., elevated blood pressure, blood sugar and LDL cholesterol). This is concerning considering how his dad suffered a heart attack at age 49. Furthermore, he also feels that his girlfriend does not find him as appealing as he was when they first started dating, because she, and their immediate circle of friends, continue to live an active lifestyle.

His company brings you in to help their employees and you happen to meet with Cody, only because he is desperate, feels futile and completely useless in his ability to change, and uncertain what to do next. In talking with him, you recognize he has many questions, yet does not appear to open up about himself personally, but by his own admittance, he acknowledges that his dietary regimen is much in need of change considering how much fast food and eating away from home he does consistently. Given how often they work late into the evening, a convenient assortment of food is often readily available to them at work. He feels that it is not really his fault for eating poorly given what he does and his time constraints, and how this work obligation leaves him no options but to eat what they provide.

Suggestions to Assist with the Case Study (Considerations):

1.Rapport and Communication: From your moment of truth, to gathering relevant information, identify key ideas and principles you plan to utilize as you plan to talk, listen and interact with Cody. Think about your initial impression about his mindset, attitudes and personality traits.

2.Behavioral Change: Never assume one is ready to change, hence always start by identifying readiness and the person’s current stage of change. Consider all contributing factors to ambivalence or resistance (e.g., health beliefs, social influences, Maslow’s hierarchy). Think about how to build self-efficacy, think to the stages of change and how to move a person through the individual stages; use classical and operant conditioning strategies to trigger healthy behaviors, and plan for potential lapses to avoid relapses.

A.Using this scenario, briefly outline (in bullet form) your philosophy and your sequential strategies for helping Cody initiate change – focus upon the rapport and investigation phases (using the space provided, list your steps sequentially; limited to 150 words).

C. Given the information presented, what other behavioral models might merit your consideration (list all applicable models)?

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