Monday, February 1, 2021 Two commonly used coaching techniques are the Transtheoretical Model and Motivational Interviewing. In a preliminary study, researchers Li et al. wanted to see if Transtheoretical model-based intervention and motivational interviewing would have a positive effect on the management of depression with individuals hospitalized for Coronary Heart Disease (CHD). Within the study, the researchers defined the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) as a behavioral change model. They focused on the following four parts for their approach: Stages of change (SOC) Process of change (POC) Decisional Balance (DB) Self-Efficacy (SE) For Motivational Interviewing (MI) the researchers wanted to focus on helping put the participants in the center of the conversation, focusing on discovering and overcoming ambivalence with an end goal of behavioral change. The Study: Li et al., had 110 participants, with a control group (n=55) and an experimental group (n=55). The experimental group received two MI sessions and three TTM sessions. For evaluation of the intervention, the researchers used the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) and the Depression Prevention and Management Survey. Participants were blind to their status of being in the control or experimental group, and both groups participated in the surveys. The results of this study found that the intervention of MI and TTM did provide positive changes for the experimental group when compared to the control group. The major findings highlight the capabilities TTM-based interventions and MI have to positively affect depression management in CHD patients suffering from depression. So, what does this mean for your practice? Not every client you have is going to fit the qualifications of this study, but the effect on self-reported depression in the study is noteworthy. Proper facilitation of the Transtheoretical Model and Motivational interviewing has been shown to be effective in positive psychology and coaching psychology research. Knowing that the tools you are utilizing are scientifically valid can be empowering knowledge. Consider fine tuning and refreshing your approach with these tools if you haven’t focused on them recently. You can find the full article by Li et al., here: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-08568-x IOC's Tips of the Week are authored by Austin Matzelle