Stages of Change: Transtheoretical Model of Change and Motivational Interviewing

Running head: CHANGE CYCLE 1
Stages of Change
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CHANGE CYCLE 2
Introduction
Transtheoretical Model of Change (TMC) is used as the foundation for increasing
appropriate interventions that will enhance health behavior adjustment. The TMC describes the
modification of problem behavior or how people acquire helpful behavior. The model mainly
focuses on the individual capacity to make the decision; it involves behavior, cognition, and
emotions of the individual. The stages of TMC includes; the precontemplation stage, the
contemplation stage, the preparation stage, the action stage and maintenance stage. Motivational
Interviewing is essential because it ensures that people undergo the steps of change effectively.
Motivational Interviewing is a patient-centered style of counseling for enhancing behavior
change by assisting patients to resolve and explore ambivalence. Motivational Interviewing
involves principles like; avoiding arguments, supporting self-efficacy, showing and expressing
empathy, supporting and developing discrepancy and dealing with resistance.
Transtheoretical Model of Change
Precontemplation. During the precontemplation stage, individuals are not ready to take
any change due to fear or inadequate information concerning the behavior change. Raising
consciousness through increasing awareness of the individual can help him or her to adjust the
negative thoughts. Raising consciousness involves rising information concerning cures,
consequences and causes for a particular behavior problem. Raising awareness can be through
interpretation, confrontation, personal experiences and feedback. Alistair is worried about the
Total Knee Replacement surgery, and he feels that overweight might be the cause of the
condition it portrays that he is not ready for the operation. As the nurse in the orthopedic ward, I
would try creating awareness to Alistair on the importance of the surgery (Wadden, Butryn,
Hong & Tsai, 2014).

CHANGE CYCLE 3
Contemplation. During the stage of contemplation, people are willing to change after six
months. At six months they are aware of the advantages and disadvantages of changing, the
advantages must outweigh the disadvantages of the behavior change. It is at this stage that
individuals become aware that their actions may cause difficulties in the future and affect their
social environment but still are not fully ready to take appropriate actions. Family interventions,
training and role-playing, are essential to ensure that people experience dramatic relief of the
emotions. Alistair requires training to understand the importance of knee replacement and also
the importance of healthy eating to reduce his weight (Meisel, Beeken, van Jaarsveld & Wardle,
2015).
Preparation. During the stage of preparation, people are willing to undertake actions in
the immediate future, usually the next month. People start taking small steps and actions to effect
change in their behaviors; they believe that changing their way of lifestyle will ensure a healthy
outcome. The individual should now start taking actions that address their conditions, for
example, people consulting a counselor, join health education programs, self-change approach
and talking to their physician. It involves counter conditioning that requires acquiring health
behaviors that can replace the problem behaviors. Educating and motivating Alistair towards
activities that he can undertake to reduce weight could be helpful in assisting him to achieve
weight loss. Activities that can help Alistair in reducing his weight include; joining the gym and
eating healthy food. Also, motivating Alistair to undertake the operation is essential in
addressing the issue of overweight (Mastellos, Gunn, Felix, Car & Majeed, 2014).
Action. The action is the stage that people have made modifications to their lifestyles to
enhance behavior change. In the action stage since actions can be observed, behavior change is
connected with the actions. Action stage involves people altering their old behaviors and