ABSTRACT
Clients who have recognized the existence of a problem behaviour, but who have not yet taken action, are in a stage of contemplation. Verbal processes of change are used most often during the stages of contemplation. While specific events may produce the change from contemplation to action, ‘developmental processes’ also may move people into a new stage in life. Alcohol counsellors who misclassify ‘doers’ as ‘thinkers’ may risk delays in the change process. Contemplation is characterized by an awareness by clients that they have a drink problem. The duration of the stage of contemplation will co-vary both with the nature, intensity, duration and severity of the client’s drinking problems, and with the skills of the alcohol counsellor. Skilled counselling with problem drinkers will require a full appreciation of the nature of the contemplation stage.
