The Science of Change - What Works in Mental Health Treatment

The Transtheoretical Model in Practice

Much of my work is guided by the Transtheoretical Model of Change, which recognizes a fundamental truth: people don't change all at once, and they don't all start from the same place. This research-based framework identifies distinct stages people move through—from not yet considering change, to thinking about it, to preparing for action, to actually making changes, and finally to maintaining new patterns over time.

What this means in practice is that I meet you where you are, not where I think you should be. If you're unsure whether you even want to change something, we work on exploring that ambivalence rather than pushing you toward action you're not ready for. If you're ready to make changes but don't know where to start, we focus on building a concrete plan. And if you've tried before and slipped back into old patterns, we work on understanding what happened and strengthening your ability to maintain progress. This approach respects that change is a process, not an event—and that lasting transformation happens when we honor your readiness rather than force a timeline that doesn't fit.