Stages of Change

Pre Contemplation: Not thinking about change.

Key Task: Get client interested in and concerned about need for change
  • Just get them thinking about change
  • Make sure you emphasize it is their choice
  • Ask open-ended questions
  • Avoid sustain talk
  • Reflect change talk
  • With permission provide motivating information
  • Find and emphasizes benefits of change

Contemplation: Making a decision.

Key Tasks: Help them with examining pros and cons of change.
  • Help move them to a decision
  • Explore important reasons for change
  • Look for important family values
  • Explore ambivalence and the pros and cons of change
  • Use double-sided reflections
  • Highlight change talk in reflections
  • Let client make arguments for change
  • Share important information with permission
  • Support the self-efficacy/confidence of the client

Preparation: Planning for change

Key Tasks: Helping clients make a commitment and a good plan
  • Helping clients prepare well to make the change or do the behavior
  • Help them develop an effective and acceptable plan
  • Make it a collaborative plan not do it for them
  • Support the plan with your help/resources
  • Help them describe details about the plan
  • Set a timeline or date to begin or make the change
  • Address barriers and plan on how to overcome
  • Help them watch out for events that can disrupt the change

Action: Working towards change

Key Tasks: Starting to take action and making sure the plan works
  • Support the change and help spot problems in the plan
  • Reward any success
  • Check in with the difficulties that they are having
  • Help revise the plan when needed
  • Use summaries to help organize the client experiences
  • Highlight when there is support for change
  • Problem solve barriers (i.e. no transportation)

Maintenance: Sustaining the change in behavior over time

Key Task: Making the new behavior a part of their lifestyle
  • Make sure the environment supports the change as possible
  • Find and emphasize benefits of change
  • Support the self-efficacy/confidence of the client
  • Help them watch out for events that can disrupt the change
  • Problem solve the remaining barriers