Module 12 & 14: Blog Post 1

- After reading both modules, I do not have any questions at this time.

- In the dietetics field, I would integrate a self-interrogation approach to my content area. Say I was counseling a client on eating disorders. Using the self-interrogation approach, I would ask the client questions about their current eating behaviors and working toward the goal we (client and dietitian) had set at the previous session. I would gauge as whether the individual had improved on this goal or if it was still difficult for them to master. This would help them talk through the situation and allow me to see what needs to be worked on and what could be changed to reach this goal. Once they had mastered the goal set, we could move onto the next subgoal.

Another approach that could be integrated into the dietetics field is reciprocal teaching. In the textbook, it talks about it in reference to reading comprehension and for teachers/students. In a counseling setting like the one described above, I could alter it a bit, where it could be effective for the session. I would summarize and question them about the current situation in regard to their eating disorder. What was hard for them, easy, and what they were thinking about their progress/regress. We would discuss options that the client could do to improve on or set new subgoals. I would make to sure to clarify the information and ask the client for feedback to ensure they understood. Then, I would ask them if the goal was doable for them. Predicting whether they though they could master the goal or if I needed to take another route to this goal would be important to evaluate. Working with the client, being patient and understanding are all important aspects to ensuring a counseling session is successful and that the client is improving and moving to a healthier lifestyle. and that the next subgoal was doable.

-To my content area, dietetics, I feel that Higher-order thinking is more relevant. Suppose I was counseling outpatient individuals about eating disorders, it would be an "analysis, synthesis and evaluation" approach, where each session you are setting goals and building on previous progression. When counseling a client like so, you must sit down and realistically discuss the situation with client. You need to analyze what is going on about their eating behaviors that need improvement and what needs to be changed. Really in a counseling setting like so, you are reasoning with the client about what problem-solving strategies they can use to get to the end goal of being healthier. You need to evaluate what difficulties they have been having with their eating patterns, what they need to change, how they can change those patterns, what obstacles they need to overcome, and the overall picture of how they are going to get there. Taking a step-by-step approach where the client easily understands what they need to improve on, is important. Also, as the dietitian, you need to make sure you are not asking too much of the client. For you it may seem like eating 2 pieces of bread at breakfast AND with butter on them is not a hard goal to achieve, but for an eating disorder client it is. Implementing a problem solving strategy like means-end analysis would be what the dietitian would use to get to the end goal; breaking the big goal into subgoals that are suitable for the client without overwhelming them along the way. In all, getting to the bottom of the situation and realizing that a client with an eating disorder not only has an eating problem, but it is in combination with a psychological problem as well.