Lalitha Pieri Instructor Manager

RE: DB 4.2 - Case study: Jennifer

Hello Professor and Class,

Wedding and Corsini (2019) conceptualized four main stages of the change model: pre-

contemplation, contemplation, preparation, and action and maintenance. Pre-contemplation is a

stage characterized by a lack of intensions to change particular behavior in the anticipatable

future. According to Mander et al. (2014), individuals in this stage show the signs of being

under-aware or unaware of their problems. In the contemplation stage, the clients are aware of

their problem and are seriously thinking about it but are yet to take any action to overcome their

problem. The third stage in the stages of change is the preparation stage (Wedding & Corsini,

2019). It involves the combination of intentions and behavior where the client intends to take

action under the guidance of a therapist. In the last stage, individuals modify their behavior or

experiences to overcome their problems and prevent relapse of their efforts during the period

(Mander et al., 2014).

In assessing Jennifer’s situation, it is clear that she is unaware of her problem and is not

yet adopt an action plan to change her behavior. She reported worrying excessively for numerous

reasons, which are revealed to be unfounded. The trues events disturbing Jeniffer emerge to be

not severe. This indicates that Jennifer is in the early stage of change which is pre-contemplation.

As her counselor, this writer would use motivational interviewing. Wedding and Corsini (2019)

described motivational interviewing as psychotherapy designed to strengthen individuals’

motivation and commitment to change. This method is commonly used to improve outcomes

during cognitive behavior therapy, especially when dealing with clients with anxiety disorders
like that facing Jennifer. Applying motivational interviewing will help Jennifer in realizing her

problem and promote her commitment to change.

References

Mander, J., Wittorf, A., Klingberg, S., Teufel, M., Zipfel, S., & Sammet, I. (2014). The patient

perspective on therapeutic change: The investigation of associations between stages of change

and general mechanisms of change in psychotherapy research. Journal of Psychotherapy

Integration, 24(2), 122-137. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0036976

Wedding, D. & Corsini, R. J. (Eds.). (2019). Current psychotherapies (11th Ed.). Boston, MA:

Cengage.