All About the Transtheoretical Model of Behaviour Change (TTM) Developed in the 1980’s

What is the Transtheoretical Model of Behaviour Change?

The Transtheoretical Model of Behaviour Change (TTM) is a model that explains how individuals progress through different stages of change when attempting to modify a behaviour or habit.

It was developed by Dr. James Prochaska and Dr. Carlo DiClemente in the 1980s and has since been used in a wide range of settings, including healthcare, addiction treatment, and health promotion.

The model proposes that there are six stages of change that individuals may move through when attempting to change behaviours:

• Precontemplation: This stage refers to individuals who are not yet thinking about changing their behaviour and may not even be aware that they have a problem.
• Contemplation: In this stage, individuals begin to recognise that they have a problem and start thinking about the possibility of change.
• Preparation: In this stage, individuals start taking small steps towards change, such as setting goals or seeking support.
• Action: This stage involves making actual changes to the behaviour.
• Maintenance: Once individuals have successfully made changes to their behaviour, this stage involves maintaining the new behaviour over time.
• Termination: This stage refers to individuals who have successfully maintained the new behaviour and no longer feel tempted to return to their old ways.

We have formalised these key steps of change into the Behaviour Change Framework.

Change Processes

The TTM also identifies several processes of change that individuals may use as they move through the different stages.

These processes can be categorised into two main types: Experiential and Behavioral.

Experiential processes involve cognitive and emotional activities such as, knowledge acquisition, consciousness raising, self-evaluation, and emotional arousal.

Behavioural processes involve activities such as goal-setting, self-monitoring, and reinforcement management.

The TTM is widely used in healthcare settings to promote behaviour change and has been found to be effective in a variety of contexts.

By understanding the different stages of change and the processes involved in each stage, health professionals can develop tailored interventions that are more likely to be effective for individuals at different stages of the change journey.

Arrange your FREE initial consultation here.

If you’d like to find out more about overcoming or recovering from any of your mental health problems using the transtheoretical model of behaviour change then why not arrange a free initial consultation with us.

During this consultation we will discuss your particular issues and the different types of mental health counselling we offer (including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – CBT) without you having to commit to any counselling going forward.

The consultation lasts around 50 minutes and is a great opportunity to meet with either Paul or Joan and decide if you would like to proceed with any support.