Table 3.
Exemplars for Supporting Action and Building Momentum.
| 1. Listening and reflecting feelings: committing to a first small step |
| Coach: Yeah. So here’s what I’m wondering, in terms of a goal or what would be useful for you—because in the coaching structure that’s kind of how it works, we go from 1 session to the next and we have goals that we work with and they morph and evolve as we go through the weeks—but I’m curious, given where you are now, I hear some real specific forward moving in a variety of areas in this past week, and I’m just wondering, do you have a sense of what might be a next step in 1 or more of those areas in the next week or 2?Patient: I could really use a job.Coach: Mmm. What would be a first step there? Just the very first small step. |
| 2. Supporting self-efficacy and active learning by following up on progress |
| Coach: Wow. Well, did you experiment with the white noise machine that we were talking about when we left off?Patient: I did, and sometimes it drives me crazy and sometimes it’s really ok. Coach: Oh interesting!Patient: Mm hmm.Coach: Huh, and how did it compare—you were using the TV to fall asleep before that, right?Patient: Right and um, I guess it worked fine, I just didn’t have any light in the room or as much light.Coach: Mmmm.Patient: Um so yeah that was fine … |
| 3. The coach serves as an accountability partner |
| Patient: And see, you can feel free to catch me at any time ‘cause I really do much better with somebody, you know, reminds me of my, not a—not enough but where I want to be accountable. Coach: Yea, well this is, I mean, this is something that’s really important to clearly design into our working together. You know? So, if you will be very specific with me about where you want me to hold you accountable and not let you off the hook and make sure you report in on something, I mean, be clear! Let me know.Patient: That’s why I just said it. Coach: (laughter) |
| 4. Looking at the larger context |
| Coach: Yeah, well I’m really struck by the way … it seems to me this past week was a week to step back, look at the big picture, and really, “where do you want to go and what’s important here.” And, in that, you could come to a balance in what works in household living and what moves your body in the direction of becoming fitter and stronger. Then now there’s this whole piece of your purpose and the next steps with your personal mission and your work.Patient: Yeah, okay. I appreciate that feedback because being in the moment and dealing with things as they come up, I rarely get the overview. There’s this and there’s that, but I don’t see the overarching this and that from above.Coach: (Mmm). Yeah— |