Stage 1: Pre-contemplation

This stage is characterized by two distinct elements: a) the person not being able to
see or understand what the problem is, and/or b) the client wanting some other
person to change (the problem is them, not me). Pre-contemplators usually come to
counselling because of some form of pressure from another person (spouse, employer,
the courts, school, friends). Concurrently, pre-contemplators also resist change and
therefore employ denial-minimization tactics to disown any responsibility for their
contribution to the issue(s) at hand. Thus, one of the initial goals in counselling is to
determine how much denial or minimization the client is experiencing that prevents
change.

Stage 2: Contemplation
This stage is characterized by the client wanting to better understand what the "bump
in the road" is, to see the causes and as well to explore what options are available to
resolve the demise. The key point to remember here is that even though a person may
know what is the issue and what needs to be changed, contemplators are not quite
yet ready to make a commitment to action (fourth stage of change). The second stage
is a critical time for those in counselling to better understand two (2) key
themes before action is undertaken: who am I (their map of orientation) and what
strengths and resources do I have to support my journey (map of direction)? Hence, in
counselling the client and counsellor will know when the time for action arises when
the language and thoughts in counselling focus around the "solution versus the
problem" and a "view more about today and the future than the past."

Stage 3: Preparation
This stage is characterized by the client going through additional areas of mindfulness
in areas of mindfulness, learning and growth. Sometimes the client needs to improve
their communication skills, career goals, parenting behaviors, intimacy practices, and
further strengthening their self-esteem. In particular, we use this stage as an
opportunity to identify the client's values and supporting behaviors in four key areas
of life: defining the self, self-development, work and relationships. The primary goal
here is to actualize individual awareness so that a sense of self-control, comfort and
security are present when the client goes from preparation to action. In short, a
mindful sense of well-being.

Stage 4: Action
Probably the most misunderstood and misapplied stage of all in counselling. The
common problem here is that most clients and counsellors believe that change means
action, and action now at the onset of counselling. However, if the first three stages
of change are not properly addressed in counselling, failure in counselling and/or
after counselling can occur (in fact, over 45% of all clients stop counselling before the
third session as they feel their therapist or family want action before they are
actually ready for action). This stage is characterized by the basic premise in positive
psychology and cognitive behavioral sciences that before we can "change" a behavior,
we must first change or reframe our thought patterns (our mental tapes we play if
you will). While most of us want to "see" some form of change, often times the more
important change must occur in the way we think where we often don't see that
change until some future point and time. Once the action stage in counselling has
allowed us to change our thoughts (reframing), then can we commence with the more
visible desired actions, behaviours and feelings in and outside of counselling.

Stage 5: Maintenance
This stage is characterized by the counsellor and client (and in most cases his or her
social support network) to identify what possible trigger points or other conflictual
issues exist in the work and social/family setting that could cause a relapse. Whether
a client is coming in to quit smoking or improve his communications at work or in the
marriage, the counsellor and client in this stage shall develop a strong commitment to
establishing positive reinforcement activities (validation, cheerleading,
acknowledgement, praise, rewards) to sustain the change made in the action stage. In
other words, change never ends in the action stage, it merely takes a new form and
presence in our life.

Stage 6: After-care
There are some thoughts, behaviors or feelings we wish never return (the former
smoker who doesn't take up smoking again when he gets stressed). However, some
healthcare professionals believe there are certain behaviors, thoughts or feelings we
never completely remove (traditional 12 step programs for example propose that
alcoholics will always remain "an addict in recovery"). This stage is characterized by
determining what types of behaviors, thoughts or feelings can realistically be
terminated, and equally as well, what types require a lifetime of support and
maintenance. The ultimate goal though in the after-care stage is to ensure that the
client understands that by embracing lifelong learning he or she increases the chances
for a more healthier and happier life. We believe that the lifelong learning process
can be experienced both in counselling and other environments. In short, our doors
are always open for tune-ups and new learning sessions.
Overall, by using the above mentioned six stage model of how we go through learning
and change, our counsellors are able to work in a more understandable and believable
way with each and every one of our clients. Our counselling model then ensures
each change stage has its own correlating counselling process(es) that allow two
short-term goals to be continually experienced in counselling: i) a greater sense of
awareness and b) shift from focusing on problems to thinking about solutions.

For example, in the pre-contemplation stage (stage 1), the counsellor may need to
work with the client over a period of time with cognitive, gestalt or psychoanalysis to
replace the denial mindset with an ownership mindset. Stage 2, contemplation stage,
the counsellor may focus more on traditional psychoanalytical and existential
processes to allow suppressed feelings and thoughts that often times makes us feel
"stuck" in unpleasant moods be identified and understood in counselling. In stage 3
(preparation stage), the counsellor may then shift to a rational-emotive or cognitive-
behavioral model (CBT) to challenge non-effective thinking patterns that often times
causes non-action or procrastination that often times prevents stage 4, the action
stage, from being experienced. Stage 4, action stage, focuses on three areas for
movement and change: thoughts, emotions and behaviors. Hence, this stage will
require a focus on growth in our thinking patterns as well as modifying behaviors and
replacing unpleasant emotions with pleasant feelings. The most effective process
used in stage 4 is CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy). Maintenance, stage 5, is a key
stage where we ensure the progress made is sustained for a lifetime.

We also focus on not only maintaining the change, but also how to ensure the client
continues to use the change processes. The processes of rewarding positive behaviors
and developing nurturing relationships are key here. Stage 6, termination, utilizes
similar processes like that of stage 5 whereby the temptation or threat of returning to
old behaviors/thoughts are removed. Reinforcing the happy life model is key here to
ensure the spiraling cycle of change is absent for most of life's "bumps in the road."