The Stages of Change Model

Preparing for eventually reducing or stopping self-harming:

The Stages of Change model researched and constructed by Prochaska and others, describes the processes that people go through to achieve behavioural change, particularly in relation to health habits – smoking, drinking etc. It’s an interesting model, based on the findings of how thousands of people managed without professional help to free themselves from addictions and other ingrained behavioural patterns.

The importance of this model is that there are 5 very distinct stages in the process of change, and we need to recognise and respond to the particular stage we’re in. The stages are:

1. pre-contemplation – when we don’t realise there’s a problem, let alone what the solution might be

2. contemplation – we start to think about changing the habit, but are still very ambivalent

3. preparation – OK – we’re serious now! We’ve made the decision to kick whatever unhealthy stuff we’re doing, and are making realistic, careful plans for how to achieve this

4. action – yup – action. Doing it. No putting it off but getting stuck into improving our lives by losing the crap that’s impeding us.

5. maintenance – the real challenge! Sticking to it for years, for ever. Too tough to imagine in the early, day, or hour at a time stages, but it’s heartening to read all the stories about those who have achieved this.

Recognising these stages, and where we are in relation to them, can be incredibly helpful in being able to move towards stopping self-harming. It can, for example, be tempting one day to galvanise enough emotional strength to impulsively decide to stop. “That’s it. It’s doing too much damage. It can only get worse and harder to stop. It will be hard but somehow I’ll do it.” Etc etc. The trouble with relatively spontaneous, or certainly under-prepared decisions to stop is that they’re unlikely to succeed or be sustainable. It really is preferable to move from contemplating change to actively and thoroughly preparing for it. By identifying which stage of change we’re in, we’re much, much more likely to be successful in achieving this.

[taken from: Bright Place.Org]