People at different stages of change require various incentives and types of support to move forward. At the same time, a person can stay at each stage of changes for as long as he or she likes, and returning to the original behavior after already achieved changes means sequentially going through all the stages again. The change model is applicable to people’s lives in the modern world. The theoretical basis of the change model is the change readiness stage model developed by American psychologists Mary Velasquez and Carlo DiClemente.
The approach proposed within the model defines behavior change not as a one-time event, but as a process that naturally proceeds through certain stages. It is impossible to achieve real change in behavior without going through these stages in sequence. From one stage to another, the willingness to change grows (DiClemente & Velasquez, 2002). I agree that the movement in the direction of change and transition from one stage to another is facilitated by factors that differ depending on the particular stage.
I believe that application of the change model ensures the development of a person’s sense of responsibility and self-confidence. This approach makes it possible to regard counseling as a process of solving common problems with a specialist. In such a process he or she takes an active position and makes decisions, and the specialist, for his part, appreciates his or her ideas and supports the undertakings.
In conclusion, the change model allows to establish a trusting relationship with a person in which he or she can trust a specialist with his problems and describe his behavior in detail, without fear of condemnation and rejection. The aspects of change and interviewing that the authors describe in the article are still actual and applicable to the modern realities of communication and life processes.
Reference
DiClemente, C. C., & Velasquez, M. M. (2002). Motivational interviewing and the stages of change. Motivational interviewing: Preparing People for Change, 2, 201-216. Web.