How can we better understand our clients with Multimodal Screening?
In the world of health and wellness, the initial meeting between professionals and clients holds the potential for transformative journeys. While there are many well-established methodologies that can guide you, in this post I would like to focus on multimodal screening. (developed by Psychologist Arnold Lazarus)
Multimodal screening aims to create a full picture of how clients think and act, considering their current and past experiences. Using this approach helps wellness professionals make better decisions about which strategies can best help their clients succeed in making major lifestyle changes.
The multimodal screening process, a central component of Lazarus’s framework, involves evaluating individuals across seven key modalities, which he encapsulated using the acronym BASIC ID. (*Worth mentioning that he created it to help therapists do thorough assessments. Surprisingly, these same ideas can also be useful for fitness and wellness professionals when they assess their clients. The main difference is that this way of evaluating gives professionals a good understanding of their clients’ backgrounds, but it doesn’t involve making formal diagnoses or claiming to know everything about clinical matters.)
The acronym BASIC ID stands for: 1.
Behavior
What does a day in the life of the client look like, from getting up in the morning to going to bed at night? Which behaviors could the client increase or decrease to lead a healthier and better life?
2. Affect: Which emotions does the client experience and express most often? Does the client have strong feelings about exercise or other healthful behaviors?
3.
Sensation
Does the client report specific sensory problems (pain, tension, headaches)? Does the client report positive sensations from movement of any type (walking, exercising)?
4. Imagery: Is the client a dreamer .. someone who visualizes success or failure? Does this person hold negative or false images about the experience of exercise?
5.
Cognition
What are the client’s primary attitudes, values, beliefs, and opinions? Of particular importance to fitness goals, does this person have some magical ideas about how to become more fit or to lose weight?
6.
Interpersonal
Who are the people at work, friends, and family members who play the biggest roles in the client’s life?
7. Drugs/Biological: What are the client’s current health goals compared to their perceived health status?
By assessing individuals across these seven modalities, wellness professionals and coaches can gain a more comprehensive understanding of their clients. This understanding, in turn, would guide the selection of interventions that are tailored to address each individual’s unique combination of strengths and challenges.
📌 Remember, like with any framework or methodology that is out there, its important to choose one(s) you feel comfortable using and working with.