EP 92: The Science of Not Giving Up (And How to Coach It)

Your client falls off the plan. You tweak the plan. They fall off again. In this episode, Dr. Kasey Jo Orvidas breaks down why changing the plan isn't fixing the problem, and what's actually going on underneath it: psychological flexibility. Research consistently links it to better outcomes in weight loss, exercise adherence, and emotional regulation, and it's one of the most overlooked skills in coaching. In this episode, she covers:What psychological flexibility actually is (and what it's not)The research linking psychological flexibility to better client outcomesThe six core processes from the Acceptance Commitment Therapy model and how to apply each one in coachingThe specific language patterns that signal a client is psychologically inflexible, including "just tell me what to do," "if I can't do it perfectly why bother," and "I'll start over Monday"How to reinforce flexible behavior when it's already showing up in your clientsWhy reconnecting clients to their values is what makes discomfort meaningful instead of just hard If you've ever had a client who looked motivated, said all the right things, and still couldn't follow through, this episode is for you. Connect with me on Instagram! Grab 5 Free Lessons in Mindset and Behavior Change Coaching [HMCC WAITLIST]LEAVE A REVIEW, WIN A WORKSHOP! After you leave your review, take a screenshot and upload it to this form to be entered to winWant me to answer your questions on my next Q&A episode? Drop your questions here! Episodes Referenced:EP 90: 5 Coaching Strategies for More Consistent Clients EP 49: Understanding Stress and Emotional EatingEP 50: Stop Stress Eating [Coaching Tool] Sources:Hayes et al., 2006Kashdan & Rottenberg, 2010