We can all be on the look out for opportunities in our daily interactions with people, to open the door for a chat about a person’s wellbeing and health e.g.
· someone mentions a desire to lose weight
· someone is looking at a poster about stress
· someone is looking at a poster about stress
· someone ticks a box on a form indicating they smoke
The conversation we have doesn’t have to be long, and we don’t have to be experts. This is about planting the seed for people to make helpful change and working with that person to discuss their support needs (which might come from signposting to other experts).When we spot an opportunity, we can use the ASK – ASSIST – ACT approach to frame our conversation.
ASK
We want to ask if the person is happy to have a brief chat about the topic that might be relevant. By asking permission, we help them feel in control and it sets up a tone of collaboration (of working with the person rather than simply telling the person).
· So losing weight is something you have been thinking about. How would you feel about having a chat about what that might look like for you?
· I see you’ve spotted our poster on stress, is there anything in particular that you’re looking for right now?
· I see you’ve spotted our poster on stress, is there anything in particular that you’re looking for right now?
· I noticed from the form that you smoke, how would you feel about having a chat about smoking?
ASSISTIf we get the green light, we want to get a better understanding about the person’s context and needs (what’s going on for this person right now, what are they open to changing, what’s getting in the way of change, and what support might be helpful for them).
To do this, we want to use our person-centred communication skills to build feelings of support and trust.
We can do this through our non-verbal behaviour e.g. having an open posture, maintaining eye contact, showing that we are actively listening and interested in what the person is saying.
We can also use verbal skills like open questions and reflections.
Open-questions for example increase our understanding about the person’s context, whilst also prompting the person to have control in the conversation and reflect on their situation. Asking open questions starting with what and how can be helpful e.g.
· how does smoking fit in to your day at the moment?
· What do you do at the moment to manage those high stress levels you mentioned?
Reflections are a way for us to validate and normalise the challenges that the person has shared with us, and to highlight the positives and strengths that we hear in the discussion. Reflections like this can boost confidence to make change and build trust between you and the patient.· What do you do at the moment to manage those high stress levels you mentioned?
· It sounds like you’re dealing with a lot right now and that is understandably creating stress for you
· Sharing your thoughts about wanting to lose weight is a great first step towards making change
· Sharing your thoughts about wanting to lose weight is a great first step towards making change
· That experience of giving up smoking in the past shows great strength
ACT
Once we have a better understanding of what is going on for the person, we can collaborate with them to identify helpful first steps towards change.Continuing with the person-centred approach, it can be helpful to start by asking them for their thoughts.
What would their next steps be?
· What will they do?
· When will they do it?
· When will they do it?
· Where will they do it?
· Who will they do it with, discuss it with?
· Who will they do it with, discuss it with?
· How will they know its worked?
What is likely to get in the way of them taking those steps· Lack of information? Can we signpost them to relevant websites or resources?
· Lack of skills, resources, support? Can we signpost them to relevant services?
If you plant that seed of change in interactions then that seed will continue to grow well beyond the interaction you have.