A few weeks ago I wrote a blog about motivation and the stages of change with clients in therapy.
The main idea is just because a therapy client has a problem doesn't mean they are ready to address that problem.
To understand the different levels of motivation I used the transtheoretical model of change which says there are 5 stages of change counseling clients pass through.
For instance, if a client is smoking they might:
...not know smoking is a problem - The Precontemplation Stage
...know smoking is a problem, but not be interested in changing. - The Contemplation Stage
... be getting ready to stop smoking -The Preparation Stage
... be taking steps to stop smoking - The Action Stage
...be working to remain tobacco free - The Maintenance Stage
All of that can seem a little abstract.
The stages of change in action.
So let's use an example from business. Watch this 9 second clip.
There's some backstory here, but the heart of it is, this lady, Codie Sanchez, is selling an online course teaching others to make passive income by buying small businesses.
This clip is from her 7ish minute sales video.
It's an excellent example of three stages of change.
See if you're looking at her site, you are in the preparation stage of change. You're looking, researching, and learning about passive income. You haven't actually take any steps yet, but you realize there is a problem you want to solve, making more money, so you're trying to figure out what your next move is.
But, in her video she's pushing you. She saying, "Choose. Are you going to take action or are you going to browse?"
She's essentially daring you to move either up to action or admit that you're actually in contemplation.
You can't be halfway.
It's an excellent example of how business deals with the motivation problem.
If they have an unmotivated customer they simply move on. They're are plenty of other fish in the sea.
Therapists pain and the stages of change.
In therapy this seems wrong somehow. It feels like we shouldn't have the same "move it or loose it" attitude with clients.
I wonder if this feeling misses the point.
If we are going to require therapists to work with unmotivated counseling clients then we need to do a darn good job of training them on how to work with motivation.
Otherwise, it's the therapists who, forced to work with the unmotivated, will burn out because they are being coerced into "helping" those who don't want the help
And that's not fair to us.
If you liked this post, consider signing up for my newsletter. You'll get more goodies like this.