Change doesn't have to be a scary word

Change is hard, but pretty much everyone coming into therapy is seeking just that. Change. Something is no longer working and we need a change. The difficulty is, we cannot rely on our environment to change, but rather change comes from within us. People come to therapy to help change their thinking, relationships and behaviors. Research has shown that people typically go through some phases before they make change stick. These stages summarized look like this:

Precontemplation - “I don’t need to change, things are fine.”

Contemplation - “maybe some things need to change, but then again, maybe things are fine.”

Preparation - “I’m going to do some research to figure out how this can be better.”

Action - “I’m starting therapy and going every week.”

Maintenance - “I’ve stuck with my changes in my life for several months.”

Relapse - “I had a lapse in my change and went backwards.”

This process is not linear. We often bounce around when we are trying to make big changes in our lives. Sometimes we back slide, but we can jump back into action and get back on track. Think about the difficulties with trying to change your diet, we might occasionally slip up and have a few cookies. That doesn’t mean we are changing. We are learning from the process.

What changes are you working towards in your life and where do you see yourself in this cycle? Comment below.

As a therapist, my goal is to help you sustain the changes you are making in your life and help you determine when certain behaviors and thinking patterns are no longer serving you.