Changing established habits and making changes to lifestyle choices in order to improve well-being can be quite difficult, so simply providing advice to patients to achieve a healthier lifestyle it usually presents obstacles such as resistance, inaction, and persistent poor health (Watkins, 2018). Advice such as exercise and diet, maintaining correct medications, and routine checkups are examples of health-promoting behaviors that can prevent complications and improve well-being (Dellasega, Gabbay, Durdock, & Martinez-King, 2010). However, it is important that healthcare professionals intervene to encourage patients to engage and take useful precautions to improve health behaviors. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Motivational Interviewing (MI), originally developed for use with people struggling with addictive behaviors (e.g. drugs and alcohol), is now used for a variety of health problems. It has evolved from person-centered therapy and now aims to encourage the individual to recognize the need for change and take specific actions to progress that change (Dellasega, Gabbay, Durdock, & Martinez-King, 2010). Additionally, patients are always encouraged to explore their beliefs and values ​​they may have about or against a behavior they wish to change. Motivational interviewing specifically emphasizes the importance of considering each person's distinct perspectives when discussing a treatment plan (Dellasega, Gabbay, Durdock, & Martinez-King, 2010). Through the use of therapeutic communication and relationship building, healthcare providers are able to empower patients to strive and make such behavior changes. Motivational interviewing is simply an approach that actively engages patients and taps into their primary motivation for change. Below we will identify the specific components of motivational interviewing used to help patients change their health behaviors. It will consider the case of Alistair and link to how the Transtheoretical Model of Change can be used to support this. He will do this by describing and using the Cycle of Phases of Change at his disposal. Establishing rapport and setting the agenda Pre-contemplation and contemplation Building rapport between the interviewer and the patient is an important step in making the patient feel comfortable and relaxed. In this way the interviewer can reach a level of trust that allows the patient to accept and process any suggestions and processes. This further establishes a comfortable environment that is conducive to examining problems and surfacing personal reasons for change. It is important that the interviewer considers the patient's perspectives, values ​​and feelings and adopts an attitude of acceptance. This, however, does not compromise approval or agreement, ambivalence is expected and therefore this must also be acknowledged (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 1999). In the pre-contemplation phase, patients do not yet act and are unaware that their current behaviors, habits or lifestyle choices could negatively affect their health. In this phase the patient focuses on the “what ifs” of the idea of ​​change rather than the benefits. In Alistair's case, he belongs to this stage because he is interested and has initiated the thought of change. Contemplation, however, is where the patient intends to take action to improve their behavior, but it can still beambivalent (LaMorte, 2018). Assessing readiness for change and sharpening focus: Determination A study conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics collected data from 2014-2015 on the obesity rate in Australia. It has been shown that among the adult population alone (18 years and over) 63.4% of the population is overweight or obese (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2015). Obesity rates were also found to increase with age, with four in five men – aged 45 and over – overweight in 2014-2015. It is important to discuss specific interventions with obese patients. Among patients with orthopedic conditions, obesity is a common condition and is on the rise. Not only does it affect the healthcare system and the body itself, but it also represents a huge obstacle to individual patient care and affects bone and joint health (American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, 2015). It is important to assess the patient's motivation for change and develop an understanding of their position on the idea. There may be a useful action plan in place to support behavioral change. As far as Alistair is concerned, a dietary intervention would be a beneficial action plan to achieve his long-term weight loss goal. This is allowing Alistair to become aware of the negative lifestyle and address it with discrepancies (LaMorte, 2018). Alistair should also be encouraged with self-efficacy so that he and the interviewer believe that he is capable of achieving his goal. Identifying Ambivalence and Eliciting Self-Motivating Statements: Action Ambivalence is where a patient may have mixed feelings about their plan to change their behavior and may assert that their problems are not that bad at all (LaMorte, 2018) . Lack of motivation can manifest this feeling and therefore must be recognized. The concept of ambivalence can be the positive or negative evaluation of behavioral change and should be identified early (Sipilä, 2017). Once Alistair is stabilized and recognizes that through his action plan he will achieve weight loss, he must be fully involved in the change process. Alistair needs to be helped to understand that his daily life could be much better once he realizes the change in his behavior. Miller and Rollnick identified four different types of self-motivational statements including: cognitive recognition, affective expression of concern, direct or implicit intention to change behavior, and optimism about one's ability to change (LaMorte, 2018). These statements exemplify the different self-motivational statements that can be recognized. The patient must be encouraged through the thought process of change and once the patient uses self-motivational statements it will become evident that he or she has made progress. Managing Resistance and Shifting Attention: Maintenance Once the therapeutic process is well underway, resistance may arise. If resistance appears, this may be a result of the patient's lack of motivation or the approach simply does not work for the patient (LaMorte, 2018). The patient may exhibit unusual behavioral patterns; discuss, ignore, interrupt by denying (Australian Institute of Professional Counselors, 2015). Because the patient may feel resistant to change, it is important to maintain personal control and choice over the specific problem and continue to remember that resistance (just like other feelings) is very normal. To further help with resistance, shifting focus away from barriers or certain obstacles can help prevent future relapses.