In-Person Workshop: Working with Hopelessness and Helplessness about Lifestyle Change - The TeMPPo Framework

Workshop Description: Healthcare professionals, particularly physicians, are tasked with supporting patients to make often complex lifestyle changes, such as adopting healthier eating habits, increasing physical activity, or ceasing smoking. While the evidence for the benefits of these changes is well-established, many patients find themselves feeling hopeless or helpless in the face of such significant changes. This feeling of being “stuck” can lead to frustration for both patients and their providers. For physicians, this situation is particularly challenging, as it may feel like they are not making progress despite their best efforts. Over time, this can contribute to burnout, emotional exhaustion, and reduced job satisfaction. This 3-hour workshop is designed specifically for physicians working with patients who are struggling to make meaningful, sustainable lifestyle changes. By using a structured framework - TeMPPo (Theory, Models, Practices, Paradigms), physicians will learn how to effectively address the experience of hopelessness and helplessness in their patients, while also gaining valuable strategies to prevent burnout in their own practice. At the heart of this workshop is the recognition that the process of change is complex and multifactorial. Many different elements contribute to whether or not a person will successfully change their behavior, and understanding these elements can be the key to unlocking progress. The TeMPPo framework provides a comprehensive guide that includes:

Theory: The foundational principle of change is that it must be driven by a personally meaningful incentive. People will change when they are driven by something that is sufficiently personally meaningful to them. At the heart of all behavioral change there is only one theory that reliably predicts such change - personally meaningful incenticve.

Models: Behavior change can be understood through a variety of models, each of which emphasizes a different aspect of the process. Some models focus on readiness for change, others on self-efficacy, and others on social determinants of health or developmental stages of behavioral change for example. Understanding key models and when to apply them is key to the process.

Practices: The workshop will explore practical tools and techniques that physicians can use to maximize the likelihood of successful change. This includes creating a strong therapeutic alliance with patients, which is essential for fostering trust and collaboration. Additionally, techniques from Motivational Interviewing (MI), such as rolling with resistance and eliciting patient-driven solutions, will be emphasized. These practices empower patients, increase their autonomy, and help physicians avoid the frustration that comes with pushing harder for change than the patient is.

Paradigms: One of the most under-explored but critical elements in behavior change is the paradigm—the beliefs that both physicians and patients have about the possibility of change and what it might look like. These beliefs can both facilitate and hinder progress. For instance, a physician who believes that change is difficult or unlikely may inadvertently project that belief onto the patient, which can create a self-fulfilling prophecy. Similarly, patients may have entrenched beliefs about their ability to change, which could be challenged and reframed. By recognizing and addressing limiting paradigms, physicians can create a more positive, solution-oriented environment for both themselves and their patients.

This workshop will not only provide participants with the theoretical and practical tools they need to support patients through challenging lifestyle changes, but it will also equip them with strategies for self-care and professional growth. By adopting the TeMPPo framework, physicians will gain confidence in their ability to work with "stuck" or overwhelmed patients, and they will have concrete techniques for improving their own resilience and job satisfaction. Throughout the session, participants will engage in case analyses, group discussions, and brief role-playing exercises to deepen their understanding and practice these concepts. Physicians will leave the workshop with a clear action plan for implementing TeMPPo into their practice, as well as a set of tools to support both their patients and themselves in the complex process of lifestyle change. Ultimately, this workshop aims to empower physicians to not only help their patients make meaningful lifestyle changes but also to cultivate a more fulfilling, sustainable practice for themselves, reducing the risk of burnout and increasing overall job satisfaction.