When it comes to health coaching, being autonomy supportive is more than just helping people make choices
Last month, the International Coaching Psychology Review published a paper I’d been shaping for a few years. The title I chose was:
The Health Activation Process: An autonomy-supportive coaching model for sustainable active living.
This is one of the most satisfying papers I’ve published. Why? Because it’s the first since combining my longstanding interest in coaching psychology, with my more newly formed interest in exercise science. For those who don’t know me, these days I’m spending much of my time working at the intersection of these complimentary disciplines, with health coaching applications the primary focus.
In this paper, I present a model that first started to form 10 years ago, when I re-engaged with long-distance running, and really took shape 3-4 years ago, whilst completing my exercise science degree. Having the model ‘out there’ means I can start using it for some interesting follow-on research…which I am!
I recently joined the wonderful Sharon Curtain on the Health Coach Podcast, and we spent the time chatting about Self-Determination Theory (SDT). We chose SDT because it is hugely relevant to coaching and has considerable scientific validation. Whilst chatting, I shared a pearl of wisdom once offered to me by Edward Deci (co-author of SDT) that “autonomy support starts with the perspective of the other”.
Whilst the statement is simple, the implications for health coaching are not, especially when physical activity becomes the topic of conversation. Many people have complicated relationships with physical activity and, when they do, we shouldn’t be surprised if simple applications of the GROW model and SMART goal setting don’t manage to generate sufficient motivation for sustainable active living.
That’s where the Health Activation Process comes in. I usually describe it as a model that “takes enjoyment seriously”, based on the observation that bodily movement is inherently fun for human beings and, when appropriately supported, people will choose it for themselves. And by “appropriately supported” I am of course referring to support that “starts with the perspective of the other” and can result in more substantial support for autonomy.
If you’d like to read more about this, then you can access the paper here:
https://explore.bps.org.uk/content/bpsicpr/20/1/6
If podcasts are more your thing, then you can hear Sharon & I chat about SDT here (…although I don’t say too much about the Health Activation Process, so you might have to read the article): https://www.thehealthcoachshow.com.au/podcast/episode/1f902ea6/self-determination-theory-in-a-coaching-context-with-gordon-spence-or-ep-28
If you would like to contact me directly, please feel free to either email me at gordon.spence@sydney.edu.au or info@drgordonspence.com
