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… 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, addition, 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.
Contemplators 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 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 stage of
change, their thinking is clearly marked by two changes. First, 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
. 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 will surely be relapse, usually to precontemplation or contemplation
stage.
6) GRADUATION STAGE
Yes !!! Graduation. Like graduating from school, it doesn't mean you stop
learning and experiencing and being "tested".... but it does mean it is time to
"get on" with the myriad and continuing aspects of life.
These are some of the insights of the Scientific Study of Natural Human Change
done by Dr.s Prochaska, DiClementi among others, and elaborated in the book -
"Changing for Good."
Three Significant FACTUAL Findings
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
LAPSES ARE THEREFORE NATURAL, NORMAL ASPECTS OF THE PROCESS OF CHANGE. THERFORE
IT IS ILLOGICAL TO VIEW THEM AS A WEAKNESS OR SOMETHING THAT LOWERS A PERSON'S
ESTEEM OR WORTH
IT IS IMPORTANT TO THOROUGHLY PROGRESS THROUGH EACH STAGE. IMPORTANT SKILLS,
LEARNING AND INSIGHTS OCCUR DURING EACH STAGE. TAKE NOTE THAT WHATEVER STAGE
YOU MAY FIND YOURSELF TODAY YOU HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT EFFORT AND PROGRESS
TOWARD YOUR GOALS OF CHANGE.
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