James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2024

HS5801 - Health Coaching and Behaviour Change

Subject Description

Health coaching and behaviour change are vehicles for helping people achieve a higher level of well-being and performance both personally and professionally. Such practices have the potential to be a transformational force in the healthcare system and can be applied in many settings and via multiple methods (in person, telehealth, individual, groups). The goals of health coaching are not only limited to specific health outcomes such as blood pressure or blood sugar levels but also to a number of important whole-of-person factors including increasing knowledge, responsibility, confidence, satisfaction, self-efficacy, sense of purpose and values. In this subject you will experience theoretical and practical learning activities on health behaviour change methodologies and its specific application in the context of health and health coaching psychology, including: · Verbal and non-verbal communication techniques · Therapeutic relationship and rapport building · Appreciative inquiry · Motivational interviewing and transtheoretical model of change · Compassion and positive psychology · Acceptance commitment therapy · Cognitive behavioural therapies · Nudging and built environments · Applying self-care. The knowledge and skills you will acquire in this subject are applicable to many fields of health, including lifestyle medicine, mental health and common areas such as medication compliance.

Learning Outcomes

• Evaluate health behaviour change methodologies to improve lifestyle and socially related health factors
• Integrate effective communication strategies to enhance therapeutic relationships and improve lifestyle and socially related health factors
• Evaluate and compare the determinants on behaviour including lifestyle, social and environmental factors
• Simulate the experience of self-care as a foundation for understanding health related behaviour change

Subject Assessment

• Written > Self-reflection task - (30%) - Individual
• Performance/Practice/Product > Scenario-based learning activity - (50%) - Individual
• Padlet video post (2 minute) + 400 written post in response to a short questions (on behaviour change) - (20%) - Individual

Note that minor variations might occur due to the continuous subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.

Availabilities