Because people are usually more persuaded by what they hear themselves say than by what someone tells them, it’s part of our job at WIC to have the participant verbalize how they want to make a healthy behavior change. The same is true of our co-workers using more PCS skills. Their plan on what skills to work on and how is the most important and, ultimately, most effective. There are many different types of “change talk” including:
• Desire – I wish I could get my participants to open up a little more.
• Ability – I could try to ask more open-ended questions.
• Reasons – If I could get them to open up more, I know I could find more ways to help.
• Need – I can’t keep having one-sided conversations.
• Commitment Strength – I’m going to come up with some open-ended questions to use in my assessment
As a PCS Champion it’s important for us to recognize this kind of talk and reflect or ask probing questions to have the participant or co-worker think through the process of change.