Exploration in Action: Guiding Clients Toward Solutions

Presented by Hélène Thériault

Video Runtime: 81 Minutes; Learning Assessment Time: 31 Minutes

Healthcare professionals are often looked to for answers—but what if the most sustainable solutions come from the clients themselves? Exploration in Action: Guiding Clients Toward Solutions is course 5 of 8 in the Dive Into a Coach Approach^® 1.0 | Core Fundamentals course series. This course empowers clinicians to step back from prescribing and instead support clients in uncovering their own pathways forward. Drawing from self-determination theory, adult learning theory, and the Stages of Change model, this course introduces evidence-based coaching techniques that prioritize client autonomy, build self-efficacy, and foster deeper motivation. Providers will learn how to balance their clinical expertise with a coaching mindset, observe obstacles that may derail progress, and use tools like the DIVE IN Goals™ framework to anchor goal setting in values and personal meaning. This course equips athletic trainers, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech-language pathologists to apply coaching strategies in a variety of settings—including hospitals, outpatient care, and telehealth—to enhance outcomes and client engagement.

Learning Objectives

List three key theories that explain why clinicians should resist prescribing solutions
Build three strategies that promote client-led problem-solving instead of prescribing solutions
Recognize four criteria for when to share expertise while maintaining client autonomy
Name four key criteria for when to observe obstacles in a coaching conversation
List nine coaching techniques
Identify four ways to integrate the DIVE IN Goals™ in practice
Select which method is most suitable for your client population
Express how the DIVE IN Goals™ support the coaching framework

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Meet your instructor

Individual with long brown hair, smiling in a light blue top, on a plain white background for medbridge.

Hélène Thériault

Hélène brings more than two decades of experience in the medical field to her role as a master certified coach (MCC). Witnessing the toll of burnout firsthand, she discovered the power of the Coach Approach in her practice, benefiting both her patients’ recovery and her own well-being. Drawing on her expertise in…

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Chapters & learning objectives

1. Empowering Clients: The Case for Resisting Prescribing Solutions

This chapter explores why shifting from telling to asking enhances client motivation, retention, and follow-through. Through key behavior change theories, learners examine the risks of overprescribing and practice strategies like questioning, reflecting, and pausing to empower clients to create their own solutions.

2. Balancing Expertise and Observing Obstacles: Supporting Client Autonomy

Here, clinicians learn when and how to offer insights while still honoring client ownership in the process. The chapter introduces criteria for responsibly sharing expertise, as well as ways to identify and name obstacles—such as emotional barriers, past challenges, or external limitations—without taking over the conversation.

3. Exploring DIVE IN Goals™: A Practical Tool for Client Motivation

This chapter presents the DIVE IN Goals™ framework as a structured, client-led method for setting meaningful goals. Learners explore how this tool supports coaching conversations by aligning goals with values, anticipating challenges, and building accountability. Practical examples and applications help providers tailor their use across settings and populations.

More courses in this series

Coaching Fundamentals in Healthcare

Hélène Thériault

Building Clarity: Defining the Coaching Process

Hélène Thériault

Listening and Mindset: Applying the Foundations

Hélène Thériault

Diving Deeper: Understanding the Client’s Perspective

Hélène Thériault