Self Modification Program

Psychologists are concerned with teaching people the

skills they will need to manage their own lives
effectively
Self Modification Program
The basic idea of self-modification assessments and
interventions is that change can be brought about by
teaching people to use coping skills in problematic situations.
An advantage of self-modification (or self-management)
techniques is that treatment can be extended to the public in
ways that cannot be done with traditional approaches to
therapy.
Another advantage is that costs are minimal.
Clients have a direct role in their own treatment, techniques
aimed at self-change tend to increase involvement and
commitment to
their treatment.
Effectiveness
Self-modification strategies have been successfully
applied to many populations and problems including
coping with panic attacks
Helping children to cope with fear of the dark
increasing creative productivity
managing anxiety in social situations, encouraging
speaking in front of a class, increasing exercise
control of smoking
dealing with depression (Watson & Tharp, 2007).
Effectiveness
Research on self-modification has been conducted in a wide
variety of health problems, including
Arthritis
Asthma
cancer,
Cardiac disease
substance abuse
Diabetes
headaches
vision loss
Nutrition
selfhealth care (Cormier et al., 2009).
Self-modification Strategies
Self-modification strategies include
self-monitoring
self-reward
self-contracting
stimulus control
self-as-model.
Steps
For effective self modification, these basic steps are
provided by Watson and Tharp (2007):
1. Selecting goals. Goals should be established one at a
time, and they should be
Measurable
Attainable
Positive
significant for the person.
expectations should be realistic
Steps (continued)
• 2. Translating goals into target behaviors. Identify behaviors
targeted for change.
Anticipate obstacles
think of ways to negotiate them.
• 3. Self-monitoring. Deliberately and systematically observe your
own behavior,
keep a behavioral diary, recording the behavior along with
comments about the relevant
 antecedent
Cues
consequences.
Steps (continued)
4. Working out a plan for change. Devise an action
program to bring about actual change. Various plans
for the same goal can be designed, each of which can
be effective.
Some type of self-reinforcement system is necessary in
this plan. Self reinforcement is a temporary strategy
used until the new behaviors have been implemented in
everyday life. Take steps to ensure that the gains made
will be maintained.
Steps (continued)
5. Evaluating an action plan. Evaluate the plan for
change to determine whether goals are being achieved,
and adjust and revise the plan as other ways to meet
goals are learned.
Evaluation is an ongoing process rather than a one-time
occurrence, and self-change is a lifelong practice.