Stages of Change

Last night's meeting was so informative! Thanks so much to Dr. Henah Gupta Ph.D. for sharing and working with the group on The Stages of Change.

Here is a brief summary of Prochaska’s Stages of Change (Prochaska & colleagues 1994)



Pre-Contemplation (resisting change): This is either a denial of the problem, or an awareness of the problem with an unwillingness to change.

Contemplation (change on the horizon): There is an awareness of a problem, an understanding of the pros and cons of change, yet there is a fear of change.

Preparation (getting ready): There is a clear awareness of the problem and the need to learn how to change.

Action (time to move): The person starts to terminate unhealthy behaviors and develop new, more positive behaviors.

Maintenance (staying there): action behaviors are practiced and continually reinforced until they become automatic and last for an extended period of time.

It is important for you to ascertain what stage you are in for the various problematic eating disorder behaviors you experience. Increased understanding will yield a greater likelihood of actual complete recovery.

Exercise: List your eating disordered/addiction behaviors. For each behavior, list the corresponding stage of change where you are in your process of change. If you have any behaviors in the earlier stages of change, list the pros and cons of change. When you understand the pros and cons of change, you will better understand your fears. When you understand your fears, you will better be able to develop alternative, healthy ways to address those fears.

source: Dr. Henah Gupta, Ph.D. and Eating Disorders: The Journey to Recovery Workbook (2001)

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The presentation was great and this model can be used not only for people in all different stages of recovery but for practically any area of our lives where we want to make positive, effective, lasting change!

peace, hope and love,