Empowering Behavior Change in Patients: Practical Strategies for the Healthcare Professional

Empowering Behavior Change in Patients: Practical Strategies for the Healthcare Professional reviews medical research and pairs it with behavior change theories to create counseling strategies and tools that equip the reader to empower others to adopt and sustain change. With contributions by leading physicians, PhDs, health coaches and other experts in behavior change, the book presents a variety of perspectives, backgrounds and educational experiences encouraging readers to alter their counseling practices to include more behavior change and coaching strategies.

Features

• Guidance from renowned behavior change experts as well as medical students and healthcare professional students in training to create a unique mix of well-established theories and practices, review articles and research, and tools and strategies, in addition to perspectives on change to use when counseling individuals with chronic conditions and those looking to prevent disease
• Presents healthcare providers with tools to be empowering messengers by relaying this information to patients in relatable, inspiring ways
• Features successful case studies throughout and provides examples of language to use when counseling individuals
• Provides cutting-edge examples of the effectiveness of group visits to help create sustainable change which is a healthcare trend that is up and coming
• Shares concrete strategies to help readers move forward in their own behavior change journeys as well as help others, either patients, colleagues, or loved ones to make strides toward optimal health and well-being
• Implements lifestyle medicine concepts and principles
• Each chapter includes a summary and takeaway points for the reader

A volume in the Lifestyle Medicine series, this book is for those in healthcare looking to empower people to adopt and sustain healthy lifestyles based on the six pillars of lifestyle medicine, including routine physical activity, nutritious eating patterns, sound sleep, positive social connections, stress resilience, and avoidance of risky substances. This book is a solid resource for information on behavior change in healthcare benefiting not only the healthcare industry and students, but also parents, teachers, and anyone who cares for an individual with a chronic condition such as diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, or obesity, and for those looking to prevent the onset of disease.

Beth Frates, MD, FACLM DipABLM

Beth Frates, MD is a trained physiatrist and a health and wellness coach. Dr. Frates has devoted the majority of her career to lifestyle medicine. She is an award-winning teacher at Harvard Medical School, where she is an assistant clinical professor. Dr. Frates is a Fellow of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and a Diplomate of the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine. A decade ago, Dr. Frates taught the first college Lifestyle Medicine curriculum at Harvard through the Harvard Extension School. It is still one of the most well-received courses offered at the school. In September 2020, Dr. Frates was voted president of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, and she serves as President from November 2022 to November 2024.

Dr. Frates coauthored The Lifestyle Medicine Handbook: An Introduction to the Power of Healthy Habits with colleagues Dr. Jon Bonnet, Dr. Rich Joseph, and Dr. Jim Peterson. In addition, she coauthored The Teen Lifestyle Medicine Handbook and the PAVING the Path to Wellness Workbook: A Guide to Thriving with a Healthy Body, Peaceful Mind, and Joyful Heart.

In Dr. Rippe’s Lifestyle Medicine textbook 3rd Edition, Dr. Frates served as editor for the Behavior Medicine section and Addictions section. She is passionate about lifestyle medicine and coaching people to adopt healthy habits.

Mark D. Faries, PhD

Mark D. Faries, PhD is an Associate Professor in Behavioral Medicine, with focus on why and how people initiate and maintain healthy behaviors, including theoretical, religious, and self-regulatory aspects of healthy lifestyles for chronic disease prevention. He has served on the Board of Directors for the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.