STAGES OF CHANGE

The Transtheoretical Model (TTM) is a framework for understanding how people change their behavior. It outlines six stages which help identify where a person is in their change journey and what support they might need to progress.  These stages can apply to various areas including addiction, mental health, and criminal behavior. Each stage provides a framework for understanding where a person is in their journey and what support they might need to progress to the next stage.  The six stages are listed below.

  1. Pre-contemplation: At this stage, individuals are not yet considering change. They may be unaware of the need for change or resistant to it.
  2. Contemplation: Individuals start to recognize the need for change and begin to think about it. They weigh the pros and cons but haven’t committed to taking action.
  3. Preparation: At this stage, individuals are planning to take action soon. They may start making small changes and develop a plan.
  4. Action: This is the stage where individuals actively implement their plan and make significant changes to their behavior.
  5. Maintenance: After achieving their initial goals, individuals work to sustain the changes and prevent relapse.
  6. Termination: In this final stage, the new behavior becomes a permanent part of the individual’s lifestyle, and there is no longer a risk of relapse.

Genesis Behavioral Services therapists use their understanding of TTM in their therapeutic approaches when treating clients.