Welcome to the Behaviour Change Institute (BCI). We are here to train healthcare providers in behaviour change intervention methods, so that they can better assist their patients and clients. Our team can offer support through workshops, on-going supervision and face-to-face consultation.

Who we are

Michael Vallis is a health psychologist at Capital Health and an associate professor at Dalhousie University specializing in diabetes, cardiovascular risk, obesity and behaviour change. He initiated the BCI to offer health care professionals support in working with patients and clients who could benefit from assistance in changing negative behaviour patterns.

For the most part, only clinical services employing behavioural specialists have access to behaviour change interventions. Typically these services are only offered by referral in a one-on-one setting. As valuable as this type of service is, it cannot meet the needs of the whole community. We can help.

Is behaviour change the exclusive territory of the psychologist?

Many health care professionals such as physicians, nurses, dietitians, physiotherapists, occupational and recreation therapists and pharmacists, have legitimate interests and the expertise to address lifestyle issues.

Traditionally when a behaviour problem is identified, the only intervention available is to refer the patient or client to a behaviour specialist like a psychologist. These meetings usually happen at another time, in another location. This can be helpful, but behaviour interventions are more effective when they are addressed immediately.

Those not responding to this level of intervention can be offered more specialty services by those with more training in behaviour change counseling.

Behaviour change specialists can be a great resource in providing training to other health care providers so that basic behaviour change counselling is implemented as standard practice.