As a parent, handling the unpredictable course of your teenage daughter’s life can be like walking through a maze while blind. When you think you have it all sorted out, in comes new difficulties. Adolescence is a time of growth and changes for your daughter, who may be struggling to make new friends, navigate academic challenges, or discover her personal identity. Fortunately, understanding the stages of change and identifying which stage your daughter is in can be useful for supporting her.
Clearview Horizon Girls Academy is committed to promoting growth and development in teenage girls. As a parent, you may wonder how you can know which stage of change your daughter is in. The answer lies in the stages of change model. This model can help you better understand your daughter’s behavior, mindset, and readiness to make positive changes in her life.
The Stages of Change Model
The stages of change model helps to explain how people progress between stages of readiness in changing a particular kind of behavior. Originally, the model was limited to the treatment of addiction. Later, it was repurposed for other areas like adolescent development.
Now, the stages of change model can be used to analyze readiness to overcome challenges surrounding nearly anything. According to the stages of change model, individuals may progress through five main stages on their journey toward behavior change.
#1. The Pre-Contemplation Stage
At the pre-contemplation stage, your daughter will not perceive her behavior as a problem and, thus, will not consider undergoing behavior change. In this stage, your daughter will likely have a high resistance to feedback or other people’s advice.
Even if your daughter recognizes that change may be necessary, she is likely not willing to put forth the effort to make that change happen. During this stage, she might be treatment-resistant.
#2. The Contemplation Stage
At the contemplation stage, your daughter is aware of the problem she has and is considering a change. Nevertheless, she might remain ambivalent or hesitant to act. She may be willing to seek information or inquire about change. However, she will not yet show any action toward making those changes happen.
#3. The Preparation Stage
During the preparation stage, your daughter is active in planning and preparing to make changes. She may be trying to accumulate information, looking at the alternatives, and planning to achieve a goal. With the information she gathers, she is likely to begin figuring out how this change can happen in reality.
#4. The Action Stage
This action stage is all about your daughter carrying out behavioral changes. She might discover and try new approaches, reach out for help, and struggle to overcome barriers.
As a parent, this is the stage in which you will likely begin to see changes within your daughter. You will notice she is making efforts to overcome the challenges she is dealing with.
#5. The Maintenance Stage
During the maintenance stage, your daughter should maintain the changes that she has successfully made in her behavior. She could be exhibiting new behaviors, approaches, and thought patterns that promote sustained success.
At this stage, your daughter will likely feel confident in her progress. She is then on the road to cementing these changes.
Recognizing Your Daughter’s Stages of Change
Now that you know about the stages of the change model, how will you use it in your daughter’s life at Clearview? Here are some practical strategies for identifying where your daughter stands in her journey of transformation:
- Observe her behavior: Observe your daughter’s behavior, attitude, and interactions. Look for any patterns or shifts of behavior that may suggest that she is moving through the stages of change.
- Listen to her perspective: Take time to hear your daughter’s thoughts, feelings, and worries without any criticism. Provide a safe space for open communication, which increases your daughter’s comfort in sharing her experiences.
- Ask questions: Discuss your daughter’s goals, aspirations, and challenges with her. Try to ask open-ended questions. By doing this, you can cause her to reflect on her experiences and consider whether there is a chance of change.
- Offer support and encouragement: Provide constant encouragement and express faith in your daughter’s healing journey. Applaud her efforts and rejoice at her small successes.
- Respect her autonomy: Identify that your daughter is a different person with her own set of virtues, vices, and morals. Praise her independence and support her to choose the path that corresponds to her dreams and desires.
When you have identified the stage of change your daughter is in, it is important to prepare to support her in moving through the stages of change. Being prepared can help you feel that you have a plan throughout your daughter’s recovery.
Supporting Her Through the Stages of Change
Encourage your daughter to practice self-reflection and self-awareness. Assist her in discovering her values, beliefs, and dreams. Help her in noticing where she needs self-improvement.
With the support of Clearview Horizon Girls Academy, you can help your daughter develop resilience and coping skills. These assets will ensure she can live a life of self-assurance and grace. By developing a healthy lifestyle and routine as a family, you will help support your daughter in moving through the stages of change.
As a parent, you are key in supporting your daughter’s development. This is also true while she is at Clearview Horizon Girls Academy. You can provide the guidance, support, and encouragement your daughter needs to navigate and overcome the challenges of adolescence with confidence and resilience. When you are well informed about the stages of change model, you can actively participate in your daughter’s experiences. By understanding her current stage, you can help her adapt to change, conquer challenges, and succeed in making her way through the twists and turns of life. To learn more about recognizing the stages of change your daughter may be in, reach out to Clearview Horizon today at 866-584-4788.
