Claudia is a 20-year-old female in her second year of an exercise physiology degree at
university. Claudia has an appointment at the campus medical centre as she is wanting to reduce her
alcohol intake as she has just found out she is pregnant. Claudia states she has been drinking ‘way
too much alcohol and blacking out’ and she often cannot remember what happened the night before.
She has a long-term boyfriend and now that she is aware that she is pregnant, she is concerned about
her drinking habits. The health care professional (HCP) decides that Claudia is in the preparation
stage (Stage 3) of the transtheoretical model of change. The HCP will need to build a relationship
through therapeutic communication and utilise Motivational Interviewing to progress Claudia through
the stages of change towards stage 5, Maintenance.
You will need to;
a) Identify which stage of Erikson’s psychosocial stage of development Claudia is in (with
rationale for your choice) and describe why she may be behaving in this way.
b) Identify one key element of the Spirit of MI and describe how the HCP will use this to
elicit Claudia’s reasons for wanting to change
c) Describe the Motivational Interviewing techniques the HCP will use to assist and support
Claudia to the Action Stage (with reference to her alcohol use) and to work towards the
Maintenance Stage.
d) Outline what new behaviours Claudia would need to engage in to be successful in the
Action Stage and to achieve improved health outcomes long term and to reach