Maintaining Motivation in the After-Core:  Setting Goals, Keeping Track of Success, Problem Solving, and Reaping Rewards  

Class Overview

The attached after-core class was developed by Barbara McCann, PhD, behavioral consultant to the DPP center in Seattle.  The purpose of the class is to teach participants how to manage their own health habits using the principles of behavioral self-management.

Session 1: Goal Setting  Participants will discuss the purpose of setting goals and learn how to select achievable goals.  Participants will complete several goal setting handouts using an example goal of their own.

Session 2: Keeping Track of Success  Participants will discuss the purpose and importance of self-monitoring.  Participants will devise a self-monitoring strategy to monitor progress toward the goal they set at the last session.  

Session 3: Problem Solving  Participants will review the steps involved in problem solving and work through a problem solving example.  

Session 4:  Reaping Rewards  Participants will discuss intrinsic and extrinsic rewards and plan some examples of intrinsic and extrinsic rewards for themselves.  

Editors Note:  Be sure to assign some homework at each session so that participants can practice applying what they have learned.  Review the homework at the next session.  At the final session, provide a review of all of the sessions and discuss how participants can use what they have learned after the end of the class.  (An excellent related reference for yourself and for well-educated participants is Self-Directed Behavior: Self-Modification for Personal Adjustment by David Watson and Roland Tharp.)