<span style="font-weight: 400;">Client’s come to us to change their behaviour in some way because they are seeking to increase their confidence in something. It is pretty much always that they wish to achieve confidence in how they look, feel or move…or a combination of these...even though they may not explain it this way. They usually say something like….</span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">“</span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">I'd like to lose weight”</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">“</span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">I want to build muscles/tone up</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">”</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">“</span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">I want to feel stronger and fitter</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">”</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">“</span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">I wish I didn't have these aches and pains</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">”</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">“</span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">I want to get rid of my belly fat</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">”</span>

<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">“My clothes no longer fit”</span></i>

<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I want to run a half marathon”</span></i>

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<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-28621" src="https://www.biomechanicseducation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/shutterstock_1364554769-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1304" />

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Inevitably we view the answer as simple and that, with our skills, we can simply tell them what to do since that’s what we learned on our fitness qualification or therapy training...right!?</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Yet adherence and/or long term success is far more challenging than it first seems. </span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">In our ‘fit pro’ minds it's really easy!! Eg: </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Move more, eat less</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">!...then why doesn't this work long term for so many?</span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Well, yes it is that simple but it still doesn't work to simply tell them what to do because it's not just the facts of calories in &amp; out...pretty much every client knows this concept &amp; it's really </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">simple</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to communicate….</span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">“.....</span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">move more, eat less</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">….”</span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">….yet it still doesn't help..so what is it? </span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">They also know what they are doing wrong in terms of those food binges or long periods sitting still at their desk...SO WHAT IS IT?</span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">...and more importantly, how can we help?</span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">We should maybe consider attending a CPD in communication &amp; consulting tactics to help our clients with their goals. Motivational interviewing techniques are an evidenced based model of approaching our consultation style for example.</span>

&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Having recently experienced Dr Gary Mendoza’s Behaviour Change &amp; Motivational Interviewing (MI) online course a key component that came from his research was to avoid simply giving information, even when asked. Instead employing a more ‘client centred’ approach (Rogers.C, 1983) with a dialectical style to it. The techniques Gary taught us were, at first, a challenge to implement, because they felt so different to the way consultations usually go. </span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Usually we</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">ask questions, the client responds &amp; this repeats until we have gathered what we feel is enough data. Then we offer our ideas based upon what the client has said, our education, experience &amp; our practice.</span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">However the evidence behind MI &amp; these dialectical techniques is gaining strength &amp; credibility. Offering increased success for adherence &amp; long term results from enhancing a client’s motivation &amp; ability to change with the use of a ‘client centred’ approach. </span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">When applying them they produce a difference in the </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">quality</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> of the information gained from clients, this was immediately obvious in my experience during my training &amp; with clients since I completed the course. Basically it's changed the way I communicate with clients. </span>

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<h2><b>What is Motivational Interviewing (MI)?</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></h2>
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<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-28622" src="https://www.biomechanicseducation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/shutterstock_1068924428-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1440" />

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">MI skills empower the client to create their own solutions, since </span><b><i>they are the experts in themselves</i></b><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Gary’s research in utilising MI techniques to support individuals through a weight loss programme for example found that it had a profound effect on increasing the likelihood of subjects, not only succeeding in their weight loss goals in the short term but also in the long term. </span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Simple tactics like O.A.R.S help to structure a consultation to have a ‘client's centred’ approach. </span>

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<b>O</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">pen questions - builds rapport, to gain clarity &amp; understanding of the clients world. </span>

<b>A</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">ffirmations - build clients' self efficacy &amp; confidence.</span>

<b>R</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">eflections - to demonstrate empathy, they are valued &amp; heard. </span>

<b>S</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">ummary - confirm understanding &amp; move session to a close. </span>

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<a href="https://stagesofchange.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Find Gary's courses HERE</a>
<h2><b>What is Dialectical Behaviour Therapy?</b></h2>
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<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-28623" src="https://www.biomechanicseducation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/shutterstock_1107423758-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1709" />

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Remember </span>

<b><i>Dialectic</i></b><i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is defined as the art of determining the truth by the logical exchange of ideas…... </span></i>

&nbsp;
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">transformation of quantity into quality. Engels (2006) </span></i></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">DBT is a type of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), another communication tool mainly used in therapeutic / counselling / psychology practices but also in personal training. However, the results for behaviour change are what make all of these ‘consultation techniques’ so fascinating.  </span>

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<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">(DBT)...attempts to balance and integrate acceptance and change through a dialectical process…..the most fundamental dialectic addressed by DBT is that of acceptance and change…..help the client develop greater acceptance of the self, of others,</span></i>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Originating from Linehan’s work in the 1970’s and 1980’s with individuals who were experiencing chronic mental health conditions, these ‘therapeutic’ intervention techniques can go a long way to improving our consultation techniques. </span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">The endeavour to practice these techniques can lead to identifying and altering negative thinking. This clearly crosses over into our health and activity industry as I am sure you can imagine. </span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">The ‘dialectical’ part of behaviour change is supporting the client with their own solutions for….</span>

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<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Their acceptance of situations </span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Strategies to orient the change they seek</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Regulation of their negative emotions</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Their tolerance to stress</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Interpersonal effectiveness</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">DBT first focuses on stabilising the client into behavioural control, replacing certain emotional/behavioural responses with improved ones. Then it aims to get actions under control, allowing the client to feel they are the decision maker creating their new behaviour strategies. </span>

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<h2><b>Finally.... </b></h2>
&nbsp;
<ol>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Do you get frustrated by clients NOT doing what you suggested?</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Do you listen to your own dialect &amp; critically analyse it?</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Do you consider ways to improve or structure your consultation to test its efficacy?</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Do you follow evidence based ways of doing things where possible?</span></li>
</ol>
&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">We have been so impressed but the results of Dr Gary Mendoza’s Behaviour Change &amp; Motivational Interviewing course that we have booked him for our intimate annual event.....</span>

&nbsp;
<h1><a href="https://www.biomechanicseducation.com/the-kaizen-project/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><b>The Kaizen Project </b></a></h1>
&nbsp;

<img class="aligncenter wp-image-28625" src="https://www.biomechanicseducation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Screenshot-2021-07-12-at-14.52.34.png" alt="" width="548" height="224" />
<h1><span style="font-weight: 400;">Friday 8th October at Loughborough University</span></h1>
&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Not only can you come along and meet Gary, but we also have a whole day of sessions from industry leaders in Empowerment &amp; Coaching AND you get free lunch &amp; refreshments all day within your ticket price! </span>

&nbsp;
<h2>See who else is presenting</h2>
&nbsp;
<h1><a href="https://www.biomechanicseducation.com/the-kaizen-project/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Why not join us &gt;&gt;READ MORE &amp; BOOK HERE&lt;&lt;</span></a></h1>

<hr />

<h2><b>References;</b></h2>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Clifford, D. and Curtis, L., n.d. </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Motivational interviewing in nutrition and fitness</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Dimeff, L., McDavid, J. and Linehan, M., 1999. Journal search results. </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">, 6(1), pp.113-138.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Kaufman, E., Douaihy, A. and Goldstein, T., 2021. Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Motivational Interviewing: Conceptual Convergence, Compatibility, and Strategies for Integration. </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cognitive and Behavioral Practice</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">, 28(1), pp.53-65.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Merriam-webster.com. 2021. </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Definition of DIALECTIC</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">. [online] Available at: &lt;https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dialectic&gt; [Accessed 5 July 2021].</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Miller, W. and Rollnick, S., 2009. Ten Things that Motivational Interviewing Is Not. </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">, 37(2), pp.129-140.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Nutrition Society.org. 2021. </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dr Gary Mendoza | The Nutrition Society</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">. [online] Available at: &lt;https://www.nutritionsociety.org/people/dr-gary-mendoza&gt; [Accessed 12 July 2021].</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Robins, C., 1999. A dialectical behavior therapy perspective on the case of anna. </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cognitive and Behavioral Practice</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">, 6(1), pp.60-68.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Rogers, C., 1995. </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">A way of being</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Rollnick, S. and Miller, W., 1995. What is Motivational Interviewing?. </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">, 23(4), pp.325-334.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Slater, E., 2017. Engels on Ireland’s Dialectics of Nature. </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Capitalism Nature Socialism</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">, 29(4), pp.31-50.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Sporakowski, M., Prochaska, J. and DiClemente, C., 1986. The Transtheoretical Approach: Crossing Traditional Boundaries of Therapy. </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Family Relations</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">, 35(4), p.601.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Swales, M., 2009. Dialectical Behaviour Therapy: Description, research and future directions. </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">International Journal of Behavioral Consultation and Therapy</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">, 5(2), pp.164-177.</span>

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