NAVIGATING STAGES OF CHANGE
NUTRITION COUNSELING TIPS:
#1: ASSESS WHICH STAGE YOUR CLIENT IS CURRENTLY IN & MEET THEM THERE. DESIGN GOALS AND STRATEGIES THAT SUPPORT GROWTH TO THE NEXT STAGE.
As a counselor, is it important to understand and investigate what stage of motivation your client currently resides. It is a misconception to think that since they have contacted you or were asked by their doctor to see a dietitian that they are ready to make any changes.
You serve as a guide to provide your client with the knowledge, skills, and support to open them up to the next stage in their discovery of healthy living. Make the process easier for them by focusing on their strengths and current successes in healthy behaviors.
Focus on:
Improving their mindset by teaching them about a GROWTH MINDSET towards health.
Improving their skills and abilities helping them overcome barriers.
Changing one behavior at a time. When people are successful with consistently changing one behavior, it will give them the confidence to add more health behaviors to get them to achieve their health goals.
#2: INDIVIDUALS OFTEN CAN’T REALLY GAUGE THEIR STAGE WHEN IT COMES TO DIETARY CHANGE.
When an individual first meets with a dietitian, there is a tendency for them to want to put their best foot forward in excitement. When you ask them directly how motivated they are, many may proclaim their eagerness and state “very motivated”. Often they are excited about the things that “you” can do for them, but unfortunately dietary change has to be consistent and daily and can’t be controlled by the dietitian. Unlike a good work out with a personal trainer, the time that you spend with them may not provide direct obvious results.
So when they realize that the long-term results of dietary change are all up to them and that they are the ones that will have to change tough habits, suddenly you may see your client slip back in motivation from preparation to contemplation.
As a counselor, don’t be discouraged if in the first couple of sessions you see your client’s motivation change. Expecting that this may happen will help you to meet them where they are and facilitate change to the next step faster. Discuss with your client that this is natural and that long-term results come from a step-by-step journey that takes time to go through the stages and see real results.
