TPC Journal V7, Issue 2 - FULL ISSUE

The Professional Counselor | Volume 7, Issue 2 109 During their first meeting, Polly shared feeling fatigued and believing that her lack of exercise played a part in that. Amelia stated that though she managed to walk once a week, she still felt lethargic both emotionally and physically, but was not sure why. During this first group, the counselor utilized one of the central principles of MI, which reflects listening skills to express empathy and genuine caring for the nurses. To close the group, everyone received the S2BH Wellness Primer Worksheet as homework. Table 1 Suggested Curriculum for Steps to Better Health Weekly Session Session Details Activities in Session Homework Assigned Week 1: Rapport Building and Therapeutic Alliance Counselor will welcome the group and explain the weekly format, with emphasis on goal attainment. Participants will be encouraged to share work-related stressors and wellness goals. A worksheet will be provided for participants to outline wellness goals, steps needed to achieve goals and identification of stressors. Week 2: Wellness Education Participants will explore reasons for change and discuss the homework from the previous session. Participants will discuss potential pitfalls and necessary supports for successful change. Participants will identify what problems they encountered with their last change attempts. Week 3: The Stages of Change Counselor will give lesson on TTM, focusing on the stages of change. Participants will identify which stage of change they are in and work to develop stage-matched interventions. Participants will write down the advantages and disadvantages of achieving their wellness goal(s). Week 4: Exploring Ambivalence Counselor will lead a discussion on ambivalence (Miller & Rollnick, 2013; Shinitzky & Kub, 2001). Participants will discuss benefits and costs of not changing behavior. Each participant will identify one to two new habits as they move toward their wellness goal(s). Week 5: Habit Formation Counselor will discuss how participants can create new habits. Using homework, members will identify cues/routines/rewards for each new habit identified (Duhigg, 2012). Each participant will bring to the next session a brief update on their wellness goal(s). Week 6: Reframing & Risk Assessments Participants will discuss triggers and potential tactics to adhere to personal goals. Participants will identify and isolate potential triggers and solutions for the individual. Participants will identify stressors from work and life that could jeopardize wellness goal(s). Week 7: Stress Busters Participants will discuss stress and ways to enhance coping skills (e.g., emotion-based and action-based). Participants will use homework to identify appropriate coping skills for each stressor. Participants will use one of the identified coping skills over the next week. Week 8: Wrap-Up Participants will discuss how to stay motivated and engaged with wellness plans. Participants will discuss achievements followed by a termination activity. No homework assigned. Polly and Amelia came back to the second group with their S2BH Wellness Primer Worksheet results and were a little hesitant to begin discussing their results. After a few other members shared, Polly stated that the wellness primer made her more aware of her lack of exercise. Amelia then shared