Technical Skills (Student Handout Point 2) I spend the bulk of my time teaching students about recognizing, eliciting, and which are statements suggesting that an individual has at least some strengthening “change talk,” interest in initiating a behavior change. Recognizing change talk. DARN (preparatory) CAT (implementing): D = Desire A = Ability R = Reason N = Need C = Commitment A = Activation T = Taking steps After reviewing the concepts and discussing the example statements for “DARN CAT” smoking cessation on the student handout, pick a different behavioral issue and ask students to provide new change talk examples. Possible target behaviors that have relevance to a student population include increasing sleep, decreasing alcohol intake, reducing social media use, making a dietary modification, or initiating a mindfulness practice. Recognizing change talk exercise. To give students practice in recognizing change talk, give them the example target behavior of initiating an exercise program. Ask them to indicate which of the following statements (listed on the student handout) are indicative of change talk. (The type of change talk is identified following each correct example.) I really see adding anything to my schedule right now. can’t I feeling less stressed-out all the time. C (desire) wouldn’t mind – I learned in my health class last semester that people who exercise regularly get sick less often. C (reason) – not like I know anyone else who exercises. It’s I always hated gym class when I was a kid. I have to admit I admire other students who somehow manage to squeeze in exercise on top of everything else they do. C (desire) – heard that some people get a sort of after exercise. C (desire) I’ve endorphin “high” – Who has time for taking care of themselves? so tired of just sitting around studying all the time. C (desire?) I’m – I mind walking on a pretty day. C (ability) don’t – When I was in high school, I actually played three sports. I decided that after Thanksgiving I am going to start doing something. C (commitment) – there a drug for this? Isn’t I know if I keep sitting on my butt all the time, I will just wind up burned out and unhealthy. C (need) – (based on the for Change exercise in MINT, 2014) “Drumming Talk” Some of these examples are intentionally ambiguous, depending on context, and so may spark interesting discussion.
Technical Skills (Student Handout Point 2) I spend the bulk of my time teaching students about recognizing, eliciting, and strengthening “change talk,” which are statements suggesting that an individual has at least some interest in initiating a behavior change. Recognizing change talk. DARN (preparatory) CAT (implementing): D = Desire A = Ability R = Reason N = Need C = Commitment A = Activation T = Taking steps After reviewing the “DARN CAT” concepts and discussing the example statements for smoking cessation on the student handout, pick a different behavioral issue and ask students to provide new change talk examples. Possible target behaviors that have relevance to a student population include increasing sleep, decreasing alcohol intake, reducing social media use, making a dietary modification, or initiating a mindfulness practice. Recognizing change talk exercise. To give students practice in recognizing change talk, give them the example target behavior of initiating an exercise program. Ask them to indicate which of the following statements (listed on the student handout) are indicative of change talk. (The type of change talk is identified following each correct example.) I really can’t see adding anything to my schedule right now. I wouldn’t mind feeling less stressed-out all the time. – C (desire) I learned in my health class last semester that people who exercise regularly get sick less often. – C (reason) It’s not like I know anyone else who exercises. I always hated gym class when I was a kid. I have to admit I admire other students who somehow manage to squeeze in exercise on top of everything else they do. – C (desire) I’ve heard that some people get a sort of endorphin “high” after exercise. – C (desire) Who has time for taking care of themselves? I’m so tired of just sitting around studying all the time. – C (desire?) I don’t mind walking on a pretty day. – C (ability) When I was in high school, I actually played three sports. I decided that after Thanksgiving I am going to start doing something. – C (commitment) Isn’t there a drug for this? I know if I keep sitting on my butt all the time, I will just wind up burned out and unhealthy. – C (need) (based on the “Drumming for Change Talk” exercise in MINT, 2014) Some of these examples are intentionally ambiguous, depending on context, and so may spark interesting discussion.
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