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Behavioural change

LighterLife uses a highly effective combination of techniques to help your patients understand the reasons behind their past eating habits, so they can change their relationship with food in the future and develop new, healthier lifestyle habits.

 

These techniques are facilitated in small, single-sex groups with a maximum of 12 patients, led by a LighterLife weight-management counsellor.

 

The group work uses structured activities, based around techniques developed specifically for the treatment of obesity and overweight.

 

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) techniques

The thing that upsets people is not what happens but what they think it means.

 

CBT is a practical, effective and well recognised way of encouraging the development of rational, realistic thinking, which can lead to healthier ways of behaving around food and lifestyle. CBT techniques are well suited to group work and are used widely within the NHS.

 

Transactional analysis (TA) techniques

At any given time, a person experiences and manifests their personality through a mixtures of behaviours, thoughts and feelings.

 

Transactional analysis techniques explain how listening to messages and rules from the past can influence current behaviour, including choices around food and lifestyle. TA is a simple, highly effective way of understanding and improving communication with the self and others.

 

Change models

LighterLife primarily uses Prochaska and diClemente’s cycle of change model: the generic model for many addiction therapies, including smoking cessation.

 

LighterLife recognises the importance of maintaining change, with group work focusing on building patients’ skills to maintain long-term change.

 

 

Download a copy of our group work booklet here.