Stages Of Change

The Stages of Change was presented by researchers James Prochaska and Carlo Diclemente. This theory is used to help people understand the process of change. It shows that change is difficult and it often requires a steady progression of small steps toward a larger goal. In order for the person to succeed in their process of change they need to understand the three most important fundamentals in changing a behavior. There are six stages to the Stages of Change; they are precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, and relapsing. The first Stage of Change is precontemplation. During this stage the person is not ready to change. The person is in denial about having a problem, so for example if alcohol is the problem the person will not see they have a drinking problem. The
In this stage the person starts to make small changes to prepare for a bigger life change. This is the stage that the person could start going to programs like AA. Some people take the initiative of going to a therapist, joining a health club, or reading self-help books. Helpful strategies that can help the individual achieve their goal are writing down their goals, preparing a plan of action, and making a list of motivating statements. They can also gather as much information as they can about ways to change their behavior and find outside resources like support groups, counselors or friends who can offer advice and encouragement. Stage four of Stages of Change model is taking action. During this stage people start taking things into their own hands, like taking action in accomplishing their goals. If the person fails this part of the stage then it’s because they did not give enough thought or time in the steps prior to this one. Some helpful approaches that can help people with this stage are rewarding themselves for their success. They can seek out social support, and they can make a list of motivating