Synonyms
Ambivalence; Considering Change; Decision-making; Decisional balance; Risk reward analysis
Overview and Theoretical Context
Stages of change represent a series of steps and tasks that assist in understanding the multidimensional nature of the process of intentional behavior change. According to the transtheoretical model (TTM), the process begins with an individual in precontemplation and not considering change through contemplation (decision-making), preparation (planning and committing), and action (making the change and revising the plan) to reach maintenance where the new behavior is sustained and integrated into one’s life (Prochaska and DiClemente 1984). When individuals in couples and family therapy need to make a change in personal or interpersonal behaviors, the stages can be helpful for understanding their readiness and motivation. Thus, assessing stage status enables therapists to match their approaches to meet the needs of clients in different stages of change....
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Bradford, K. (2012). Assessing readiness for couple therapy: The stages of Relationship Change Questionnaire. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 38(3), 486–501. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.2010.00211.x.
Cordova, J. V., Scott, R. L., Dorian, M., Mirgain, S., Yaeger, D., & Groot, A. (2005). The marriage checkup: An indicated preventive intervention for treatment-avoidant couples at risk for marital deterioration. Behavior Therapy, 36(4), 301–309.
DiClemente, C. C. (2003). Addiction and change: How addictions develop and addicted people recover. New York: Guilford Press. (Released in paperback in 2006).
Heatherington, L., Friedlander, M. L., & Greenberg, L. (2005). Change process research in couple and family therapy: Methodological challenges and opportunities. Journal of Family Psychology, 19, 18–27.
Jacobson, N. S., & Christensen, A. (1998). Acceptance and change in couple therapy: A therapist’s guide to transforming relationships. New York: Norton.
Janis, I. L., & Mann, L. (1977). Decision making. NYC: The Free Press.
Lebow, J., & Rekart, K. N. (2007). Integrative family therapy for high-conflict divorce with disputes over child custody and visitation. Family Process, 46(1), 79–91.
Miller, W. R., & Rollnick, S. (2013). Motivational Interviewing: Helping People Change (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Guilford Press.
Miller, W. R., & Rose, G. S. (2015). Motivational interviewing and decisional balance: Contrasting procedures for responding to client ambivalence. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 43(2), 129–141.
Prochaska, J. O., & DiClemente, C. C. (1984). The transtheoretical approach: Crossing the traditional boundaries of therapy. Malabar: Krieger.
Stotts, A. L., DiClemente, C. C., Carbonari, J. P., & Mullen, P. D. (2000). Postpartum return to smoking: Staging a suspended behavior. Health Psychology, 19(4), 324–332.
Velasquez, M., DiClemente, C., Crouch, C., & Stephens, N. (2015). Group treatment for substance abuse: Stages of change therapy manual (2nd ed.). New York: Guilford.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Section Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this entry
Cite this entry
DiClemente, C.C., Wiprovnick, A.E. (2019). Contemplation as a Stage of Change in Couple and Family Therapy. In: Lebow, J.L., Chambers, A.L., Breunlin, D.C. (eds) Encyclopedia of Couple and Family Therapy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49425-8_558
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49425-8_558
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-49423-4
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-49425-8
eBook Packages: Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences