What Are the Stages of Change?

Something that is crucial to identify out of the gate when working with any client is what their stage of change is. “What is a stage of change?” you ask?

Well, in the clinical setting, stages of change comes from the Transtheoretical Model developed in the 1970s by two influential Theorists, Prochaska and DiClemente. It was initially applied to a study of people who were trying to quit smoking, and helped identify some of the differences in participants who were able to quit and maintain it, showed a desire to quit but with trouble staying tobacco-free, and could not get over the hump to try and quit at all.

They found that aside from other variables, one of the strongest factors in determining the likelihood for change had to do with how the client felt about quitting, and from here, they identified 6 separate, distinguishable categories of the change process: Pre-Contemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action, Maintenance, and Termination.

Pre-Contemplation comes forward when people aren’t ready to change, and they don’t anticipate changing anything about their behaviors or approach anytime soon, although things are going poorly enough that they are aware that there is a problem. They don’t quite yet feel that the cost (literally or figuratively) is worth the effort to change.

Contemplation means that people can generally recognize that something is amiss - they don’t feel well mentally, physically, emotionally. They are starting to recognize patterns in relationships that go south. That spending habits aren’t setting them up well. While ambivalent, they start to tell themselves that they want to take action soon.

Preparation is a stage where people are gearing up to take action to change things up. Making that phone call to a Professional Coach (cue shameless plug *** we’ve got some availability with some of the best Coaches in the industry! ***), researching effective cleanses, talking about their needs with friends.

Action is the sweet spot, at least when it comes to the Coaching process. Not only have people actually started engaging in the healthy behavior or mindset, but they are intent on staying committed. They are consistent and push through when they feel resistance, when it’s difficult or uncomfortable. They also continue to put forward the time and money that it takes, despite usually having to say no to more things and making space in the budget to be able to keep evolving.

Maintenance is what determines the course of whatever effort people have put forth. The Theorists determined that about 6 months worth of continued effort past the Action stage determines maintenance, but I say it’s up to the person. Some people need the continuous bigger and more focused effort over a longer period of time to maintain change, some people find that change comes more naturally after actually engaging in the Action.

Termination, at least when it comes to the Coaching experience, is when people can freely step away from whatever they implemented and whomever they sought help from.

As you’re reading, I’m sure you can start to understand why it is extremely important to understand where clients are at when they come to Coaches. Not just for the Coach but for the client, too. It’s not going to be beneficial for Coaches to come to the table with all kinds of action steps if a client is more in the Contemplative stage. In this case, the best thing for the client is if the Coach makes it a priority to take a couple appointments to work through what the resistance to Action is.

Not that resistance is a negative thing. It’s a natural thing. The situations, the circumstances, the dynamics are familiar, and speaking to the most basic part of us as human beings, we seek the familiar because it is the most predictable. The unknown is scary. Change is scary!

So as you sit there passively reflecting on the things that bring you strife, that are making you feel stuck, that are holding you back, ask yourself what stage of change you actually are in. And like I said before… Whatever the stage is for you, own it because there is no good or bad stage here. Owning it just means that you know where to start.

What is tough about seeking out Professional Coaching in typical models is that clients tend to face packaged coaching rates. Don’t get me wrong - there are very talented, experienced Coaches out there who are worth every penny. Our Coaches are, too, and in their private hustles they can and should do that!

But for so many of us (myself included, especially on a start-up business budget), paying upfront in high $$$ amounts to someone I haven’t worked with yet is quite impossible and scary to consider.

That’s why our model at Life Coach Club is so accessible to people (yes, I’ve circled back around to the shameless plug). We don’t package our rates, and we don’t have high one-off rates. Our Coaching is designed for you to be able to continuously access individual and group appointments, giving you time and space to be able to develop a rapport with your Coach. And on point for this blog, to be able to come into the Coaching experience at any stage of change.

You don’t have to be in Action. You don’t have to get to Maintenance ASAP. Typical Coaching packaging is usually only accessible to those that are mentally, emotionally, and financially in the Action stage, but what about the rest of us who for one reason or another can’t indulge in that cost and model?

This model is for you then. This model is more familiar to people as well, in that we are all aware of how therapy works, right? Consistent meetings with your Therapist, typically weekly. But no, this isn’t therapy! It’s just the model of using your own self-determination to continue to see your Coach, and continue evolving through the stages of change until you see the transformation you want.

It’s that simple. Visit us on the website for more information and to check out our hand-selected team of Coaches who have their own specialities. Email me with any questions you have for me or my team, and for any other helpful perspective I can offer to help you be the best version of yourself.

I’m so glad you took the time to check out this blog. Be sure to subscribe on the blog landing page to get my regular posts about common things worked on in Coaching for your own small, free bite of our Coaching expertise!

Until next time!