The Stages of Change Model focuses on the decision-making of a person and is a model of intentional change. In other words, it is used when the person actively makes the decision of making a change.
The stages of this model are:
Precontemplation: People do not intend to take action in the foreseeable future (within the next 6 months). They don't even realize that their behavior is problematic.
Contemplation: People are intending to start the healthy behavior in the foreseeable future (within the next 6 months). They start to recognize that their behavior is problematic but still feel ambivalent towards changing it.
Preparation: People are ready to take action within the <u>next 30 days. </u>They start <u>taking small steps toward the change</u> and think this can lead to a healthier life.
Action: People have recently changed their behavior (within the last 6 months) and intend to keep moving forward with it. They now have healthier habits.
Maintenance: People have sustained their behavior change for over 6 months and they are working to prevent relapses.
Termination: People have no desire to return to their unhealthy behaviors and they know they won't relapse.
In this example, your client exercises occasionally and plans to regularly participate in a structured exercise program next month. We can see that this client <u>is taking small steps toward change (exercising regularly) and plan to start a more regular exercise plan next month (the next 30 days).</u> Therefore, this clients is in the stage of preparation.
