Assessing Readiness for Change

As you begin working with an adolescent it will be important to evaluate their readiness for change. This will allow you to initiate the most appropriate intervention that matches the adolescent’s level of readiness. You may use this tool to engage the adolescent in a discussion about how ready they are to start engaging in positive health behaviors to improve their weight status. It is recommended that this tool be used at the beginning of treatment and at each subsequent encounter as progression through the Stages of Change does not always take place in a linear fashion. A nonlinear progression is common and often individuals recycle through the stages or regress to earlier stages from later ones.

Stage of Change Tool [pdf]