I like this book as it is more technical in nature than the books that build you up as you tear yourself down. It is written by professionals in the field and they have written the book in English so the person with out a degree in psych can read, understand, and even apply it. I found I understood better what my addiction counselor had been telling me and why.

In Changing for Good, Prochaska, DeClemente, and Norcross took the model of change that they developed as a means of avoiding the bias inherent in other approaches to the understanding of behavioral change and translated it into a behavioral approach to changing. They have made suggestions for passage through their staged developmental model that can be helpful both to individuals seeking to change entrenched behavior on their own and to therapists who choose to adopt their model in clinical practice.

The model itself is straightforward and rings true with anyone who has succeeded in changing a significant behavior in his/her life. The language is also direct and avoids psychological complexity and the jargon often born out of affiliation with one or another theoretical bias. Treatment approaches based on their model have proven effective in assisting individuals in making significant change in any number of areas: substance use problems, diabetes, heart disease, weight loss, medication compliance. In other words, a model helpful to anyone making significant changes in life pattern and style. The success of such approaches is not simply a matter of anecdote but of controlled studies. In short, it seems that they have hit on the way that behavioral change actually occurs in people's lives.

For therapist who are interested, it is an excellent companion to Motivational Interviewing (2nd ed.) by W. Miller and R. Rollnick.

Excellent book describing the scientifically evidenced stages of change. This is a must read for clinicians and a great guide for anyone seeking change in their life. Highly recommended.

The book was in perfect condition and arrived in a timely manner.

I work as a Behavioral Specialist Consultant, with kids from ages 2 - 21 and their parents, and this book has changed the way that I speak to them, as well as deal with my family and friends. Prochaska gives insight into why others don't think they have problems when they appear to be so obvious to everyone else, and how to work with them in an effective manner without pushing them away. When reading this book I was able to see not only the people I work with, but myself as well. It is a MUST READ for anyone interested in change, who becomes frustrated with others who they think have problems and need to change, and deffinitly anyone who works in the human service field.