Stages of Change and enhancing success
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Stages of Change and enhancing success
1) PRECONTEMPLATION STAGE
"IT ISN'T THAT WE CAN'T SEE THE SOLUTION. IT IS THAT WE CAN'T SEE THE PROBLEM"
Precontemplators usually show up in therapy because of pressures from others: spouses, employers, parents, and courts. They resist change. When their problem comes up, they change the topic of conversation. They place responsibility for their problems on factors such as genetic makeup, family, society, destiny, the police, etc.
They feel the situation is HOPELESS .
2) CONTEMPLATION STAGE
"I WANT TO STOP FEELING SO STUCK"
Contemplators acknowledge that they have a problem and begin to think about solving it.
They struggle to understand their problems, to see its causes, and wonder about possible solutions. Many contemplators have indefinite plans to take action within the next few months.
"YOU KNOW YOUR DESTINATION, AND MAYBE EVEN HOW TO GET THERE, BUT YOU ARE NOT READY TO GO YET"
It is not uncommon for contemplators to tell themselves that 'some day ' they are going to change. When contemplators transition to the preparation they begin to think more about the future than the past.
The end of contemplation stage is a time of ANTICIPATION, ACTIVITY, ANXIETY, and EXCITEMENT.
3) PREPARATION STAGE
Most people in the preparation stage are planning to take action and are making the final adjustments before they begin to change their behavior. Have not yet resolved their AMBIVALENCE, and still need a little convincing.
4) ACTION STAGE
Stage where people overtly modify their behavior and their surroundings. Make the move for which they have been preparing. Requires the greatest commitment of time and energy.
CHANGE IS MORE VISIBLE TO OTHERS.
5) MAINTENANCE STAGE
Change never ends with action. Without a strong commitment to maintenance there may be relapse to precontemplation or contemplation stage.
MOST SUCCESSFUL SELF-CHANGERS GO THROUGH THE STAGES THREE OR FOUR TIMES BEFORE THEY MAKE IT THROUGH THE CYCLE OF CHANGE WITHOUT AT LEAST ONE SLIP. MOST RETURN TO THE CONTEMPLATION STAGE OF CHANGE. SLIPS GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHERE AM I ?
From Changing for Good, by Prochaska, J.O., Norcross, J.C., & DiClemente, C.C.
"It can be deceivingly simple to assess your stage of change for a particular problem. You will need to answer only four questions about taking action in order to assess your stage."
Accurate, thorough and pertinent strategies and attention to each stage enhance success.
So if you are asking 'Where am I?' and you have a clear idea of what action (such as abstinence) you seek, respond to the following four questions:
1. I solved my problem more than six months ago.
2. I have taken action on my problem within the past six months.
3. I am intending to take action in the next month.
4. I am intending to take action in the next six months.
*If you answered no to all statements - Precontemplation
*If you answered yes to statement 4 - Contemplation
*If you answered yes to statements 3 and 4 and no to others - Preparation
*If you answered yes to statement 2 and no to statement 1 - Action
*If you answered truthfully yes to statement 1 - Maintenance stage
Stage of Change Strategies:
Pre-Contemplative: "What problem? Don't bug me".
Just visiting the meeting. Often a court or EAP program coerced presence.
Strategy: elicit open discussion and realistic perceptions of the situation. Seek an outside perspective?
Contemplative: "I want to change, but then I don't."
Ambivalent (rather than unmotivated or in "denial").
Strategy: Help clarify the situation. Read generally and learn about options. Assess anxieties and fears.
Determination & Preparation: "I know I need to, but how?"
Strategy: Determine the best course of action or plan. Create a menu/plan, seek advice, recommended readings, and set a date to start.
Action: "Now I'm working on it."
Strategy: Develop practical methods, find encouragement and sources of social support.
Maintenance: "Staying with it. Change feels permanent."
Strategy: Identify and use relapse prevention strategies. Maintain a realistic view of possible lapses, and plan to prevent them. Work on other problems or life-style changes to find a balanced and rewarding life.
In case of relapse: "Better try again and learn" vs. "might as well give up". Help to cycle back into appropriate stage without becoming stuck or demoralized.
'Pay it forward' if you wish....helping others can help us in the maintenance of our long-term sobriety.
Permanent Exit or "Graduation": "Moving on to other things".
Strategy: Support and promote continued self-efficacy and closure, while allowing for return.
Acknowledgements: Prochaska, J.O., DiClemente, C.C. & Norcross, J.C. In Search of How People Change: Applications to Addictive Behaviors, American Psychologist, 47, 11-2-1114, 1992, and Prochaska, J.O., Norcross, J.C., & DiClemente, C.C. Changing for Good
"IT ISN'T THAT WE CAN'T SEE THE SOLUTION. IT IS THAT WE CAN'T SEE THE PROBLEM"
Precontemplators usually show up in therapy because of pressures from others: spouses, employers, parents, and courts. They resist change. When their problem comes up, they change the topic of conversation. They place responsibility for their problems on factors such as genetic makeup, family, society, destiny, the police, etc.
They feel the situation is HOPELESS .
2) CONTEMPLATION STAGE
"I WANT TO STOP FEELING SO STUCK"
Contemplators acknowledge that they have a problem and begin to think about solving it.
They struggle to understand their problems, to see its causes, and wonder about possible solutions. Many contemplators have indefinite plans to take action within the next few months.
"YOU KNOW YOUR DESTINATION, AND MAYBE EVEN HOW TO GET THERE, BUT YOU ARE NOT READY TO GO YET"
It is not uncommon for contemplators to tell themselves that 'some day ' they are going to change. When contemplators transition to the preparation they begin to think more about the future than the past.
The end of contemplation stage is a time of ANTICIPATION, ACTIVITY, ANXIETY, and EXCITEMENT.
3) PREPARATION STAGE
Most people in the preparation stage are planning to take action and are making the final adjustments before they begin to change their behavior. Have not yet resolved their AMBIVALENCE, and still need a little convincing.
4) ACTION STAGE
Stage where people overtly modify their behavior and their surroundings. Make the move for which they have been preparing. Requires the greatest commitment of time and energy.
CHANGE IS MORE VISIBLE TO OTHERS.
5) MAINTENANCE STAGE
Change never ends with action. Without a strong commitment to maintenance there may be relapse to precontemplation or contemplation stage.
MOST SUCCESSFUL SELF-CHANGERS GO THROUGH THE STAGES THREE OR FOUR TIMES BEFORE THEY MAKE IT THROUGH THE CYCLE OF CHANGE WITHOUT AT LEAST ONE SLIP. MOST RETURN TO THE CONTEMPLATION STAGE OF CHANGE. SLIPS GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHERE AM I ?
From Changing for Good, by Prochaska, J.O., Norcross, J.C., & DiClemente, C.C.
"It can be deceivingly simple to assess your stage of change for a particular problem. You will need to answer only four questions about taking action in order to assess your stage."
Accurate, thorough and pertinent strategies and attention to each stage enhance success.
So if you are asking 'Where am I?' and you have a clear idea of what action (such as abstinence) you seek, respond to the following four questions:
1. I solved my problem more than six months ago.
2. I have taken action on my problem within the past six months.
3. I am intending to take action in the next month.
4. I am intending to take action in the next six months.
*If you answered no to all statements - Precontemplation
*If you answered yes to statement 4 - Contemplation
*If you answered yes to statements 3 and 4 and no to others - Preparation
*If you answered yes to statement 2 and no to statement 1 - Action
*If you answered truthfully yes to statement 1 - Maintenance stage
Stage of Change Strategies:
Pre-Contemplative: "What problem? Don't bug me".
Just visiting the meeting. Often a court or EAP program coerced presence.
Strategy: elicit open discussion and realistic perceptions of the situation. Seek an outside perspective?
Contemplative: "I want to change, but then I don't."
Ambivalent (rather than unmotivated or in "denial").
Strategy: Help clarify the situation. Read generally and learn about options. Assess anxieties and fears.
Determination & Preparation: "I know I need to, but how?"
Strategy: Determine the best course of action or plan. Create a menu/plan, seek advice, recommended readings, and set a date to start.
Action: "Now I'm working on it."
Strategy: Develop practical methods, find encouragement and sources of social support.
Maintenance: "Staying with it. Change feels permanent."
Strategy: Identify and use relapse prevention strategies. Maintain a realistic view of possible lapses, and plan to prevent them. Work on other problems or life-style changes to find a balanced and rewarding life.
In case of relapse: "Better try again and learn" vs. "might as well give up". Help to cycle back into appropriate stage without becoming stuck or demoralized.
'Pay it forward' if you wish....helping others can help us in the maintenance of our long-term sobriety.
Permanent Exit or "Graduation": "Moving on to other things".
Strategy: Support and promote continued self-efficacy and closure, while allowing for return.
Acknowledgements: Prochaska, J.O., DiClemente, C.C. & Norcross, J.C. In Search of How People Change: Applications to Addictive Behaviors, American Psychologist, 47, 11-2-1114, 1992, and Prochaska, J.O., Norcross, J.C., & DiClemente, C.C. Changing for Good
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Join Date: May 2003
Location: Northern CA
Posts: 1,432
Allegory of Change
Allegory of Change
BY PORTIA NELSON
1.
I walk,down the street
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in
I am lost.......I am helpless
It isn't my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.
2.
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don't see it.
I fall in again.
I can't believe I am in the same place,but,
It isn't my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.
3.
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in..........it's a habit.
My eyes are open.
I know where I am
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.
4.
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.
5.
I walk down another street.
-------------
http://www.beyondword.com/authors/nelsonp.html
BY PORTIA NELSON
1.
I walk,down the street
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in
I am lost.......I am helpless
It isn't my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.
2.
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don't see it.
I fall in again.
I can't believe I am in the same place,but,
It isn't my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.
3.
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in..........it's a habit.
My eyes are open.
I know where I am
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.
4.
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.
5.
I walk down another street.
-------------
http://www.beyondword.com/authors/nelsonp.html
Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: North Kingstown RI
Posts: 59
Re: Stages of Change and enhancing success
Hi Don,
I love that poem in your last post. I first saw that when I was in a day program at a mental health hospital and it soooo sums up how we all (at least me) act with certain problems, stumbling blocks, or addictions. Thanks for sharing that it brings good thoughts to my mind!
Kathi
I love that poem in your last post. I first saw that when I was in a day program at a mental health hospital and it soooo sums up how we all (at least me) act with certain problems, stumbling blocks, or addictions. Thanks for sharing that it brings good thoughts to my mind!
Kathi
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Northern CA
Posts: 1,432
Re: Stages of Change and enhancing success
Yep, it's kind of like those trees and Stop signs that get in front of cars. I hate it when I find myself arguing with inanimate objects (except my son, when he's sleeping; that I find cathartic).
Don S
Don S
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