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Living Positively

A personal health coach pilot project

Health Coach program experience with PLWHA

I Coutts (BSW), MAASW

Living Positively is a joint project of VAC/GMHC and PLWHA Victoria

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Background

Pilot project

One-on-one support

Help define personal health goals

Provide support and encouragement

Question:

‘Is providing one-on-one intensive assistance as effective in changing behaviours and increasing healthy living skills as broad based community-

based health promotion programs?

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Theoretical Framework

STRENGTHS/EMPOWERMENT‘Everything you do as a worker will be predicated, in some

way, on helping to discover and embellish, explore and exploit client’s strengths and resources in the service of

assisting them to achieve their goals’(Blundo 2001)

SOLUTION FOCUSSED

HEALTH COACHING‘Helping clients achieve positive health and lifestyle outcomes

through attitude and behaviour change’

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Practice tools and methods

MEANING‘Exploring meaning and the myriad of ways of interpreting our experiences can shed a different

light on events and open up new possibilities’(McCashen 2005)

Effective communicationRelationship buildingHealth coaching toolsRegular monitoring, use of diariesSkill development

Collaborations/partnerships

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Case Study

Demographic summary:Male40yrsBisexualNot currently in a relationshipIncome – DSP, part-time workRenting privatelyHealth – fairHIV positive since 2002Not currently on anti-retroviral treatments

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Case Study - Background

Identified health goals:

Perform regular exercise and build muscle

Eat meals more regularly

Reduce stress and be more calm

Return to regular work or study

Quit smoking

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Case Study – Interventions and methods

Build trusting relationship

Look for strengths

Focus on success

Provide material assistance

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Case Study – Outcomes

Current situation:Feeling healthier, stronger - regularly attending gymDecreased stress levels – more positive/motivatedEating healthy meals daily – increased weight, more confident in appearanceRecently accepted into university

‘My ever growing motivation to improve every aspect of my life is taking me places and achieving goals that I had

previously avoided…’

‘The social connection of being around similarly motivated people has been invaluable…the project helped me regain

the self-confidence and courage that I needed’

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Evaluations and feedback

Some narratives from participants:‘The most important and effective role the project played was in giving me

a focus on my health and well being and making me feel I was doing something to help myself’

‘I liked the feeling that someone was taking an interest over time and getting to know your particular situation. With HIV often the services

and advice can feel a bit disjointed, so it really helps to feel there’s someone there who can help you do a bit of a holistic stock-take of what

you are doing and where you are at’

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Challenges and reflections

Reflections:Relationship building – key to outcomesKnowledge health coaching techniquesKnowledge resources/networking/collaborationsSeeing success

Challenges:Need to be motivated to make changeEach person moves at their own paceCoaching vs. counselling

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Health coaching -It can work for you!

 

Have you ever thought about making some positive changes to you life? Or considered the benefits of having a health coach to support you in this process?

 The Living Positively Project is a program that offers personal health coaching to help you achieve your health related goals. If you are HIV positive and looking for some assistance in making some life changes then this program may be for you. In the Living Positively Project you will be provided with intensive one-on-one assistance to help you meet your health goals through support and monitoring, by way of regular meetings with your health coach, who will provide support and organise for both group and/or individual skill development programs to take place. The items you may want to address could include (but are not limited to) such issues as: Better diet and nutrition Stopping smoking A personalised exercise/fitness plan Stress management Building better relationships Here are some comments from people who have already participated in the project:

‘A life changing experience’‘I have a completely transformed state of mind and am tackling the changes I need to make to my life with enthusiasm’

‘Participating has helped me work through a difficult period and given me the confidence I can carry on with the work of self change’

 Recruitment for the project is now taking place so if you would like further information, please contact Ian at the Positive Living Centre on (03) 9863 0429 or 0409 829 463 or email: ian_coutts@vicaids.asn.au 

A pilot project between the Victorian AIDS Council/Gay Men’s Health Centre and PLWHA Victoria Inc.