preview

Pros And Cons Of Stages Of Change

Decent Essays

The Stages of Change and decisional balance are practice tools currently interwoven in the practice model where I work in the child welfare system. This article contains key points involving the various stages of change and how this relates to pros and cons in terms of short term and long term decision making. Moving forward in my work, I will be more cognizant of interventions that promote a higher level of pros and a lesser degree of cons – noted in this article as a determining factor in change. In working with children and families in the child welfare system, I have found it beneficial to have the client (s) participate in a cost/benefit analysis exercise analogous with decisional balance in assessing stages of change. In this exercise individuals are able to examine the real and concrete pros of continued behaviors. For example, the use of violence for conflict resolution does have its share of pros. In my experience, clients are surprised when a social worker is able to conceptualize that there are short term pros associated with negative behaviors. If you are able to point out to the client that there are pros involved with this, for example an immediate sense of accomplishment, burst of adrenaline, sense of power, etc., they may be able to understand the immediate source of behaviors, often decisions made based on emotion. Upon further examination the cons …show more content…

I can foresee challenges to using this technique if an individual is in an extreme state of denial re: a presenting problem or if an individual is impaired psychologically, for example experiencing psychosis and unable to rationalize change stages. In these cases, I would view the social workers role as one that assists the individual in allocating restorative services/supports to promote a state where they can consider change

Get Access