The Addicted Mind Podcast · Duane Osterlind, LMFT

TAM+ EP 86 Unstuck & Unstoppable: Navigating Change with the Stages of Change Model

·16 min·1 clip

Dwayne reveals how the stages of change model transformed his work with addiction by replacing shame with compassion.

This episode of The Addicted Mind Plus explores the Stages of Change model as a framework for understanding behavioral change, particularly in addiction recovery. Hosts Dwayne and Eric Osterlund, both experienced in the recovery field, guide listeners through the model's practical applications. The model was developed in the early 1980s by James Prochaska and Carlo DiClemente during a study on smoking cessation. It outlines six sequential stages: pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, and termination. Dwayne explains he was introduced to the model while working at a traditional, "hardcore" treatment facility and found it more compassionate. The hosts describe pre-contemplation as a stage where a person is unaware or uninterested in changing a behavior. Contemplation involves thinking about change but not yet taking action, while preparation is when someone starts making concrete plans, like getting a gym membership or researching therapists. The action stage is when active efforts to change begin, such as attending therapy or following a new diet. Maintenance involves working to sustain the new behavior and establish it as a habit. A key insight is that the process is not linear; relapse and recycling through earlier stages are a normal part of change. The hosts emphasize that moving back to preparation after a failed action attempt is a learning opportunity, not a failure. They note the model helps identify appropriate interventions, like helping someone in contemplation weigh pros and cons, rather than pushing for immediate action. One surprising claim is that pushing too hard during the pre-contemplation stage can cause a person to dig their heels in and resist change more strongly. The hosts argue the model is "humanistic" and compassionate because it acknowledges change is difficult and non-linear, countering shame-based approaches. A memorable point is that very few people change successfully on their first linear attempt through all the stages. The model provides an objective roadmap to self-assess one's current stage and determine the next supportive step. The tone is educational, supportive, and conversational between two co-hosts with professional expertise. The style is concise and practical, focused on delivering actionable psychology concepts without jargon. Listeners interested in addiction recovery, self-improvement, or behavioral psychology would find this episode valuable for its structured approach to change. Anyone seeking a compassionate, non-shaming framework for understanding personal or loved ones' struggles with change would appreciate it. Individuals looking for deep, narrative storytelling or debate on the model's clinical efficacy might find the episode too introductory.

As heard by us

A practical look at shame, readiness, and change without forcing the pace.

This episode treats shame, readiness, and the way recovery can stall even while someone is still trying. The stages of change model gives the discussion a clean spine, and the hosts keep pulling it back into plain speech instead of letting it drift into therapy jargon.

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Why you'd press play

If shame keeps your change plans circling, this gives you a calmer way forward.

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