The is where the Stages of Change<\/strong> model is so helpful.\u00a0 Originally published in the late 70s, co-authors James Prochaska<\/strong> (since deceased) and Carlo Di Clemente<\/strong> forensically analyzed how change happens and is implemented.\u00a0 Speaking to his model, Prochaska confirmed that the model is good for any change from buying a gift to an automobile, from relocating to managing illness; the potential impact of the change is not so much the point as the process.\u00a0 The process (and its multiple applications) is what interests these authors.<\/p>\n On the same occasion – Syracuse Behavioral Health Conference in NY pre-Covid – Prochaska spoke about how those of us in the “helping professions” are particularly vulnerable to wanting our clients to be “in action.”\u00a0 (Preferably action that’s pre-approved by us.)\u00a0 But, Prochaska pointed out, “action” is the 4th Stage in their change model, and we can’t lose the three preceding steps in the process – the change just won’t take.\u00a0 Thus, when a client arrives in the ER strapped to a gurney with a needle hanging out of his arm, we cannot assume that the gravity of his condition means that he’s ready to make a change, and certainly not a change as enormous as sobering up.<\/p>\n It’s that optimistic assumption of ours that sabotages us, leaving us invested in an outcome not yet adopted by the client, and morally scuppered when our client (predictably) fails to reach this benchmark.\u00a0 Our clients keep failing us?\u00a0 We become burned out – “all my efforts are for nothing.”\u00a0 More accurate to say, “all my efforts have been misdirected.”<\/p>\n But who wants to face up to this reality? We professionals must look to our own courage.<\/p>\n In my conversations with treatment and recovery professionals, and in the thread here, there’s little reference to the Stages of Change model, for all its salience.\u00a0 Rather we talk about “relapse.”\u00a0 But whose plan was “abstinence?”\u00a0 Clients will often acquiesce to the authority in the room – that’s us! – but without deeply committing to a plan of action which seems unrealistic to them for whatever reason.\u00a0 A client who’s in any stage before “action” is not guaranteed to stay substance-free; it\u2019s not a realistic proposition, whatever that client says to me in the moment.\u00a0 Accordingly, I have no business being shocked or annoyed when she uses again.<\/p>\n Rather, if I’m true to my recovery mission, it’s my job to find out where on the spectrum of change my client is locating herself today:\u00a0 adamant that no change is necessary despite all external evidence (1-precontemplation)? acknowledging that her life and outcomes could be improved – and by her! (2-contemplation)? interested in researching detox and treatment (3-preparation)?\u00a0 Each of these stages offers fertile ground for purposeful and respectful conversation.\u00a0 Voluntary action undertaken as a result is far more likely to be successful.<\/p>\n For professionals like us, the satisfaction lies in the process.\u00a0 A purposeful conversation skillfully undertaken is a true measure of our service.\u00a0 But don’t take it from me – you’ll hear it direct from your clients who value your interest in what’s really going on for them (not what they think you want to hear) and your personalized invitation to the solution.\u00a0 For yourself, there’s no greater defense against burnout than staying away from investing in outcomes: other people are gonna do what other people are gonna do and I\u2019m not in charge<\/em>.<\/p>\n ‘Hope this helps!<\/p>\n I discuss these issues in\u00a0\u201cGood Behavior<\/em> Ethics in Theory & Practice\u201d (a 9-hour training for professionals). One social worker participant noted, \u201cI appreciate having the connection between burnout, boundaries, and the stages of change, and letting go of outcomes as an ethical practice.\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>Next dates in June.\u00a0 Please email me for details – ruth@sobriety-together.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" One of the missing pieces in any conversation about burnout is the need for professionals to keep examining where we’re coming from:\u00a0 how invested are we in outcomes?\u00a0 Do we truly view our clients as being in process of change, even when that change is barely perceptible to us?\u00a0 Can we appreciate that our clients […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1041,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23,28,21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1038","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-coaching","category-professionals","category-training"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sobriety-together.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1038","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sobriety-together.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sobriety-together.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sobriety-together.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sobriety-together.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1038"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/sobriety-together.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1038\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1043,"href":"https:\/\/sobriety-together.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1038\/revisions\/1043"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sobriety-together.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1041"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sobriety-together.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1038"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sobriety-together.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1038"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sobriety-together.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1038"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}