Stages of change: interactions with treatment compliance and involvement

Current perspectives on compliance and involvement in treatment often overlook the fact that treatment occurs in the context of a process of change and not vice versa. Each individual moves at a unique pace through a series of stages of change and in a cyclical fashion over a substantial period of time. Treatment personnel and programs should recognize the diversity of stage status in their clients and address each one in a manner compatible with the client's current stage of change, the tasks needed to move forward in the process of change, and an understanding of the course of change. Such considerations should assist the therapist in developing strategies to increase the engagement of a wide variety of clients, to improve retention of these clients in a realistic course of treatment, and to foster participation in stage-appropriate tasks that promote successful movement through the stages to sustained, long-term change.