This document discusses stages of change and reactance in group work. It summarizes the stages of change model, which developed from research on smoking cessation and may apply to other issues. The stages are precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance. It also discusses the common factors model and how relationships, motivation, capacities, skills and techniques, and external factors influence change. Reactance is defined as a response to threatened behaviors and can block change. Maintaining change requires attention to relationships and external environments to feel understood, connected, and safe.

1. Stages of Change &
Reactance
in Group Work
Jane F. Gilgun, Ph.D., LICSW
Professor, School of Social Work
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, USA

2. Topics
• Relevance of Common Factors Model
• Stages of Change
• Reactance & Change
• Reactance & Relationships
• Reactance & Self-Regulation
• Reactance & Executive Function
• Maintenance & Change

3. Stages of Change Model
• CFM reports that service user
motivation/readiness to change is part of good
outcomes.
• SCM says that many people go through stages of
change
• This model developed on groups for people
who quit smoking
• Model may work for other addictions
• Test model for fit with other issues

4. Stages of Change
• Stage 1: Precontemplation (Not Ready)
• Stage 2: Contemplation (Getting Ready)
• Stage 3: Preparation (Ready) .
• Stage 4: Action
• Stage 5: Maintenance
• (Stage 6: Relapse)
• Cycle repeats itself

5. Stages of Change

6. Common Factors Model
• CFM says that relationships between service
users and providers are foundational for change.
• As social workers, we must think about
extratherapeutic factors
• Think in terms of how environments influence
behaviors
• Think in terms of how connected service users are
to their environments and the people in them
• Think in terms of how to connect clients to people
who are prosocial/have good executive function
(judgment)

7. Common Factors Model
• Extratherapeutic Factors (40%) [events
external to service provision]
• Relationships (30%)
• Optimism, Motivation, Capacities (15%)
• Skills, techniques (15%)

8. Motivation
& Expectancies
15%
Relationships
Extratherapeutic
Effects 40%
Technique
15%

9. Definition of Reactance
• Normal response to a threat of loss of
valued free behaviors. A motivational
state that is directed toward restoring
threatened or eliminated free
behaviors. (Brehm & Brehm, 1981)

10. Reactance & Change
• Reactance as a Major Block to Change
• Importance of relationships to Readiness to Change
• Feeling understood a bottom line
• Feeling connected and safe with at least one other
• Maintenance
• Requires attention to “extratherapeutic events”
• Anticipation & safety plans

11. Reactance, Self-Regulation, &
Change
• Many ways to handle reactance
• A matter of self-regulation
• Meditation, yoga, going for walks, talking to
trusted others, anything that is calming
• Being with positive people
• Remember negative consequences of
slips/regressions/reversion to old ways

12. Reactance & Executive
Function
• Think of consequences
• Explore thoughts of how to get what you want &
not get hurt or hurt others (rationalization: no
one will know)
• An executive function issue
• What do you want?
• How do you get it?
• Autonomy foundational to change and its
maintenance

13. References
• Chovanec, M. (2008). Innovations applied to the classroom for
involuntary groups: Implications for social work education. Journal of
Teaching in Social Work, 28(1/2), 209-225.
• DiClemente, CC; Prochaska, JO; Fairhurst, SK; Velicer, WF; Velasquez,
MM; Rossi, JS.The process of smoking cessation: an analysis of
precontemplation, contemplation, and preparation stages of
change. J Consult Clin Psychol 1991 Apr;59(2):295–304.
• Gumpert, J. & Black, P. (2006). Ethical issues in group work: What
are they? How are they managed? Social Work with Groups, 29(4),
61-74.
• Magen, R. (2009). Group work major models. In A. Gitterman &
Salmon, R. (Ed.) Encyclopedia
• of Social Work with Groups (45-58). New York: Routledge.
• Stages of Change Diagram from Loyola/Notre Dame Model
webpage.
http://guides.lndlibrary.org/content.php?pid=410759&sid=3390249