Hey Greenpoint team! Ever catch yourself explaining the stages of change to a client and think, “Wow, this sounds exactly like my failed attempt to start meal prepping last month”? You’re not alone! Today, let’s break down these stages in a way that hits close to home and helps us better connect with our clients.1. Precontemplation: AKA “La La La, I Can’t Hear You!”
Has anyone ever suggested to you a new filing system, and we all pretend the mountain of paperwork on our desks is totally fine? That’s precontemplation in action! Our clients often come to us in this stage, whether it’s about relationship patterns, substance use, or other behaviors they’re not quite ready to examine.
How to spot it:
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“My partner’s the one with the problem”
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“That’s just how I am”
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“Everything’s fine!” (narrator: everything was not fine)
Pro tip: Next time you’re explaining this stage to clients, share your own precontemplation story. Maybe it was about finally organizing your email inbox or admitting that your coffee addiction might be getting out of hand. It helps normalize resistance to change!
2. Contemplation: The “Maybe… But Not Today” Phase
This is like when you keep looking at that gym membership page but haven’t clicked “sign up” yet. You’re aware there’s a problem, but you’re doing the mental dance between change and staying the same.
For our clients, this might look like:
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“I know I should set boundaries with my mom, but…”
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“My anxiety is getting worse, but therapy seems scary”
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“I’ll probably break up with my toxic partner… someday”
Admin team perspective: Remember when we contemplated switching names? That year-long period of “we should… but what if…” That’s pure contemplation gold right there!
3. Preparation: The “Pinterest Board of Change”
This is when you start watching TikTok videos about meditation instead of actually meditating. But hey, it’s progress! You’re gathering tools, making plans, and getting ready for action.
Real talk from the admin team: This is like when we finally started researching a new HR system after complaining about the old one. We didn’t make the switch yet, but we made some phone calls – and that’s something!
Help clients recognize their own preparation victories:
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Making a list of victories
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Downloading a mood tracking app
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Telling friends about their plans to change
4. Action: “Now We’re Cooking!”
The rubber meets the road! This is when your clients start showing up to appointments consistently, practicing their CBT skills, or finally setting those boundaries you’ve been talking about for months.
5. Maintenance: The “New Normal” (With Occasional Pizza Breaks)
This is where the change becomes the new default setting – most of the time. But let’s be real: maintenance isn’t perfect. Even our most successful clients have wobbles, and that’s okay!
Keep it real: Share how you maintain your own positive changes, like:
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Setting phone reminders for self-care
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Having an accountability buddy
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Building in rewards for staying on track
Bonus Round: Relapse (Or As We Like to Call It, “The Plot Twist”)
Let’s normalize relapse as part of the change process! It’s not falling off the wagon – it’s gathering data about what works and what doesn’t. We learned from it and tried again with a better system.
Making It Work for You and Your Clients
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Use these stages as a common language in sessions
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Share your own change journeys (appropriately and professionally)
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Celebrate small wins in each stage
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Remember that change is rarely linear – for anyone!
The Bottom Line
Whether you’re helping clients process trauma or trying to remember to water your plants, change is change. By understanding and relating to these stages personally, we can better support our clients through their own journeys.
Remember: You’re not just teaching these concepts – you’re living them every day. And yes, ordering that standing desk you’ve been eyeing counts as the preparation stage. Just saying! 😉