Seven stages of process

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Seven stages of process

Carl Rogers was one of the most influential psychologists of the 20th century. He developed a humanistic approach to psychotherapy that emphasized the importance of personal growth and Self-actualization. One of his major contributions was his theory of the seven stages of process, which described how people change and develop in therapy and in life. In this article, we will explore what these stages are, how they relate to each other, and what they imply for counselling practice and research.

What are Rogers’ seven stages of process?

Rogers’ seven stages of process are a model of how people change and grow in therapy, according to the person-centred approach. They describe the different levels of openness, awareness and congruence that clients can experience as they move from a state of rigidity and defensiveness to a state of fluidity and authenticity. Here is a brief summary of each stage:

• Stage 1: The client is very closed off and distant from their feelings. They tend to blame others for their problems and avoid taking responsibility for themselves.
• Stage 2: The client is slightly more open, but still unsure about their own role in their situation. They may question their assumptions, but not act on them.
• Stage 3: The client begins to accept some responsibility for themselves, but still generalizes and focuses on the past rather than the present. They may express some feelings, but not fully own them.
• Stage 4: The client starts to describe their current feelings more accurately and less critically. They may show some willingness to change, but also some resistance and fear.
• Stage 5: The client sees things more clearly and takes ownership of their actions. They are prepared to make changes and face the consequences. They may experience some relief and hope.
• Stage 6: The client recognizes their own and others’ potential for growth and Self-actualization. They accept their pain and their joy, and are more open to new experiences and relationships.
• Stage 7: The client is fully congruent, spontaneous and creative. They are in touch with their inner self and their outer world, and live harmonizing with both.

Why are they important for understanding human development and change?

Rogers’ seven stages of process are important for understanding human development and change because they describe how people can grow and transform themselves in response to their life experiences. They also provide a framework for facilitating change in others by creating a supportive and empathic environment that fosters self-awareness, exploration, choice, and integration.

How are they related to person-centred therapy and positive psychology?

Rogers’ seven stages of process are closely related to his theory of person-centred therapy, which aims to facilitate the client’s movement from lower to higher stages by providing a supportive and empathic environment where the client can explore their feelings without judgment or direction. Rogers believed that the therapist’s role is to offer three core conditions: unconditional positive regard, congruence, and empathic understanding. These conditions help the client to feel accepted, valued, and understood, and to develop a more accurate and positive self-concept.

Rogers’ seven stages of process are also relevant to the field of positive psychology, which focuses on the scientific study of human flourishing and well-being. Positive psychology shares with Rogers‘ approach a belief in the inherent goodness and potential of human beings, and a recognition of the importance of positive emotions, strengths, virtues, and meaning in life. This also draws on Rogers’ concept of Self-actualization, which refers to the realization of one’s unique talents and capacities. Positive psychology aims to help people achieve Self-actualization by identifying and enhancing their strengths, fostering positive relationships, finding purpose and direction in life, and cultivating positive emotions such as happiness, gratitude, hope, and love.

Stage 1: Stagnation

The stagnation stage of Rogers’ seven stages of process is the first stage in which the innovation decision making process slows down or stops. This stage occurs when the innovation ( new idea, for example) reaches a saturation point in the market or when it faces competition from other innovations.

The stagnation stage can also be influenced by external factors such as social, economic, political or environmental changes that affect the demand or supply of the innovation. In this stage, the adopters of the innovation may experience dissatisfaction, dissonance or regret due to the performance, cost or obsolescence of the innovation. The stagnation stage can be overcome by modifying, improving or replacing the innovation with a new one that meets the needs and expectations of the adopters.

The key aim of this stage, is to begin the process of the clients self-introspection journey, that empowers them to look into, and ultimately resolve their mentalisation issues for themselves.

Initial aspects of this stage include introducing concepts and tools that might be useful to explore and use as part of the therapeutic process. Many may form part of the clients way of living going forward. The exact nature of these will vary depending on the type of counselling that is being applied, and the requirements of the client. Such tools may include Journaling and other forms of self expression such as art, listening to music as a reflective exercise, however, many shorter duration therapeutic interventions introduce very few tools.

Should you wish to explore such tools and techniques further, you might like to visit our self-transcendence Tools and Techniques page. 

An important aspect to allow transition to stage 2 is the growing certainty within the client that change is possible. This will only happen if they are able to understand as much as possible about their decision to change, and the information used in making that decision. They need to become more curious to look for change, by gaining confidence in their own ability to achieve and sustain positive change. Much of this depends on their ability to develop a more positive point of view. Our page on thinking yourself happy might help.

A key understanding here, is the idea of “baby steps“: The next positive change that “sticks”, will be the easiest “slight” change that becomes available through the ongoing exploration. No-one needs to get to the next stage quicker than they need to. In addition, each step should be taken tentatively, and with caution. Many client’s and counsellors alike, try to move forward too quickly, taking bigger and bigger leaps in thinking and promises to change which seem firm at first, but always seem to collapse.

This is where the concepts of Flow, and Organismic Thinking come in useful. The idea is to introduce ideas of patience, and leaving room within the therapeutic process for inspirational thoughts, including such ideas as checking our Assumptions, as well as any presumptions, with every new positive thought progression or idea. Each reason for trying this idea or solution, or helps convince us it is worth trying, need to always be under some form of systematic review and questioning. Using these ideas we can see sense in incorporating these ideas within a circular process flow, that includes these stages of giving space for previous ideas to ripple through the organism, before choosing to go with that flow.

Organismic thinking introduces the idea that the organism does not take major leaps in growth very often, but is more likely to “flow” and “ooze“, “ripple“, and creates waves, and resonances, rather than major black / white steps. However, if we look at an organism on the microscopic scale. What we find is the growth actually is a step-driven action – the single cell, for example, divides in two. Only that division is in itself a flow, that takes time for that one to eventually become two. And so we see here the organism naturally takes those “baby Steps“, and we need to match that rate of organic growth. And this is the idea of “Following the Flow”.

If we look at Black-White Thinking, and how a counsellor might tackle it. We might get a glimpse of this flow, and how the counsellor can help keep the client from running to fast, or making too large a step forward, and prevent that otherwise inevitable fall-back:

Client: “I need to stop drinking, it is going to ruin my health, I’ve tried to stop twice now, but keep finding excuses to start drinking again.” This is an example of black/white thinking. It leaps to that assumed polar opposite, of not drinking. This might not be the right idea, it may not actually be what the client really wants. they may, for example have a hidden Life Position that they don’t believe they can stop drinking, and that they have secret reinforcements that might mean that choosing to give up completely will always be self-sabotaged, often by seeking stress and reasons to be “forced” to seek relief. 

Life positions are part of Transactional Analysis, a psychological therapeutic practice, which is quite complex and is often regarded as an advanced topic for novice counsellors. However we have a page that explains how life positions can be understood and worked with. It’s important to understand, many people have these rigid ideas, that are usually down to false, assumptions that undermine their ability to follow through on goals. During this early part of the counselling sessions, questions regarding the suggestion that a total cessation of drinking is required, or wise?, might allow the client to indicate if they have such a schema.

Counsellor: The counsellor acknowledges the problem statement in a short reflection, and suggests the client sits silently for a few minutes, and imagine themselves at some point in the future, having not had a drink for more than a year. Ask the client to think about that, then discuss it for a few minutes, try to pull out at least one firm positive outcome. This will switch the client into an up-trend towards a more positive mind set. And will follow our protocol of “Happy Thinking”. It will help teach the client to keep their mind in balance, and ready for the next step:

Counsellor: The counsellor then asks the client to think of any other problems his ambition to stop drinking would solve? Just one issue at a time, the obvious one here is that he would have more available cash to spend on, perhaps, holidays. The whole point, the wholesome point, is to get the client to list and explore in detail each issue in isolation, and work out what the positive outcome would be if a solution were to be found. And to make sure these gentle thinking sessions stay easy to manage, and have a natural pause to them. The tentative approach means that we should introduce as much meditative silence into every new topic for exploration – Each issue deserves plenty of space. Gently and ever so logically, we try to not exaggerate the benefit, and we set the important understanding that the closer the therapeutic process seems to be coming to some kind of step-foreword, we try to slow ourselves down, by consciously trying to break those baby steps smaller and smaller. No-one wants to see their client falling right at the end of the session, with no time to pick up the pieces. And this is why the ever so careful approach, teasing out as much potential benefit as possible, as a buffer for any remaining adverse outcomes, that might not be avoided. By working this way, we manage the clients Window of Tolerance. Making it as unlikely as possible that the client will leave the session in a state of high arousal.

Stage 2: awareness

The awareness stage of Rogers’ seven stages of process is the second stage, where the person is beginning to consider accepting responsibility for self, but generalizes in order to distract away from the issue itself, and instead focuses more on the past trigger as a justification for continued lack of change This is a partial step towards the transition from “They need to change”, to “All I can change is myself, if I wait for them to change first, then I might wait forever, and I have given away my power to change”. They have started to accept that they can choose to do things differently, and can be encouraged to explore their future actions, as a way of exploring that challenging obstacle by projecting less challenging positive future possibilities. For example, a person in this stage might say: “I felt angry, but then then I was right, they wound me up. But I need to cope with that better”

This stage indicates a slight movement from rigidity and defensiveness towards openness and curiosity. However, the person is still not fully aware of their own feelings and needs, and may avoid confronting them in the present moment. The person may also lack trust in themselves and others, and may seek external validation or approval.

Stage 3: Exploration

The exploration stage is the third stage of Rogers’ seven stages of process, which describe the development of a person from a rigid and incongruent state to a fluid and congruent one. In this stage, the client begins to gain even more confidence in their ability to embody positive change simply by understanding more about their own motivations and decision making processes, and applying that learning to a better informed future way of behaving. They can describe their own here-and-now feelings, but tends to be over-critical of self for having these thoughts and feelings. For example, a client might say: “I feel guilty about that, but I shouldn’t really, but it was all my fault, I deserve it.” This may seem challenging in a person-centred counselling session, and the immediate response of the counsellor may be to dry to direct that individual self-destructive thought. However, the counsellor simply needs to realise that the client needs to explore themselves better. There is probably some false assumption that they need to find, and understand, until they can see the error in their thinking that proves that assumption false.

It’s useful for both the counsellor and the client to introduced the concept of Socratic Questioning at this stage. These are a simple set of questions that can help uncover illogical thinking traps caused by over reliance on assumptions that had been taken as fact without challenge. Counsellors need to use Socratic question on their own assumptions regularly. Including the assumption that they know their client better than the client themselves. Or that they know how to counsel this unique client.

Another useful tip, here, is to try to approach this counselling session, and your entire life, with a sceptical point of view. This helps prevent you and your client taking on those false assumptions of unproven facts in the first place. If the “system” is prone to over-reliance on faulty assumptions, then the first step is to minimise those assumptions being made in the first place, and when they have to be used, then those assumptions should be openly stated.

The exploration stage is characterized by a willingness and active seeking of involvement in the therapeutic relationship, but a lack of trust in the counsellor. The client may use humour or intellectualization to distance themselves from the full impact of their feelings. The counsellor’s role is to offer unconditional positive regard and empathic understanding, and to help the client become more aware of their feelings and less judgmental of themselves. The counsellor also needs to take care not to collude with the client’s defences or to impose their own solutions.

The exploration stage is an important step towards becoming more congruent and accepting of oneself. It is also a challenging stage, as the client may experience anxiety, confusion or resistance as they face their feelings more directly. The counsellor can support the client by providing a safe and supportive environment, and by facilitating the client’s process without directing it.

Stage 4: Planning

The planning stage of Rogers’ seven stages of process is the fourth stage, where clients express that they are seeing things more clearly, and take ownership of their situation, being prepared to act. They start to learn that they are empowered to look into their mentalisation problems and experiences, and want to also take charge of the solution, but are not sure how.

In this stage, clients move from being passive and reactive to being active and proactive, as they recognize their own power and responsibility to change their circumstances.

It is important to understand that this looping is an important part of the process and it is one that can cause process failure. A client often needs to try a suggested solution, or innovation, in order to find that they needed to ask themselves more questions first.

This can, and often does end in a focus of their apparent failure, rather than what they can learn from it. There is an important psychological process that is happening. One that the counsellor needs to be aware of. In order to be confident enough to try a new response to their “scary” trigger, they need to be somewhat convinced it will work. Therefore, there is that element of “needing” to over-rely on the false assumption that it will work, in order to try it. Often, even though we have stated our acceptance of the over-reliance in that assumption, we still get upset, when it fails. The counsellor can nip this in the bud, by simply asking what could be learnt from it. Thus directing the loop back to it’s start point.

This looping might go on for some time, and it is important to note that this is exactly what is needed: Every loop will be informed of the last loop, and so it is not a “blind” repetition. In fact, each failure, if learnt from, is quietly building better self-awareness and confidence  of the self, as a result. The more, the merrier!

They may make decisions that reflect a more authentic understanding of their self, and may start discussing wider, life decisions, such as quitting a job, ending a relationship, or pursuing a new goal. The planning stage is an important step towards becoming a fully functioning person, as Rogers defined it.

Some characteristics of the planning stage are :

• Clients use statements that begin with “I” and express their own feelings and opinions.
• Clients show congruence between their words and their non-verbal behaviour.
• They acknowledge the reality of their situation and the consequences of their actions.
• Clients demonstrate a willingness to experiment with new behaviours and attitudes.
• Clients seek feedback from others and evaluate it critically.

Stage 5: Evaluation

The Evaluation stage of Rogers’ seven stages of process is the fifth stage, in which the client assesses the value and relevance of the new experiences and insights that have emerged in the previous stages. The client evaluates whether these new perspectives are consistent with their self-concept and congruent with their goals and values. The client also evaluates whether these new perspectives lead to positive outcomes and facilitate their growth and development. The Evaluation stage is important because it helps the client to consolidate their learning and to integrate their new awareness into their everyday life. The Evaluation stage also prepares the client for the next stage, which is Resolution or integration.

Stage 6: integration (Resolution)

The integration stage of Rogers’ seven stages of process is the sixth stage, in which the client begins to incorporate their new insights and experiences into their self-concept and behaviour. The client can accept and value both positive and negative aspects of themselves, and to express their feelings and thoughts more freely and congruently. The client also develops a more realistic and flexible view of themselves and others, and a greater capacity for intimacy and creativity. The integration stage is marked by a sense of harmony and wholeness within the client, as well as a more profound understanding of their own potential and purpose.

What stops progression through the stages?

It is fair to say that it is in the realms of the clients understanding of self, for them to have decided themselves “unfixable”, the counsellor or therapy to be useless, or to refuse to challenge their false assumption that they can be fixed, or even, that their problem is too create for them to correct, without the counsellors guidance. All of these ways of thinking, tend to be self-fulfilling prophesies that can be an endless negative loop in itself.

However! With any “roadblock”, we always need to ask “why”, and we have a rescue service, in the way of Socratic thinking, which will always tend to provide a question that points to an avenue for positive progress. Even if, it takes 20 rounds of questions to finally see what is needed to move on. In the AI world, this is called Deep Learning.

Stage 7: Actualization

Stage 7 of Rogers’ seven stages of process is the final stage, where the person becomes a fully functioning individual who can experience effective choices of new ways of being. This means that the person can live in the present moment, trust their own feelings and intuition, and act authentically and creatively.

The person is also open to new experiences and challenges, and can cope with uncertainty and change. The person has a high level of congruence between their self-concept and their organismic experience, and can express their feelings freely and appropriately.

The person is also empathic and accepting of others, and can form meaningful relationships based on mutual respect and understanding. Stage 7 is not a fixed state, but a dynamic process of growth and development that requires constant awareness and adjustment.

What about self-transcendence? Is there an 8th stage rogers never mentioned?

Carl Rogers‘ seven stages of the process of becoming a person, culminating in Self-actualization, align beautifully with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. And Maslow’s later addition of self-transcendence certainly adds another dimension to the journey of human growth.

It’s tempting to simply add an eighth stage to Rogers’ model, but let’s consider what Rogers might say about this. However, Rogers emphasized the individual’s subjective experience and the uniqueness of each person’s journey.

So, rather than a rigid eighth stage, Rogers might suggest that self-transcendence is an ongoing process, a continual unfolding that emerges naturally from the foundation of Self-actualization. It wouldn’t be a separate stage but a deepening and expanding of the self-actualized state.

Imagine a person who has achieved Self-actualization, fully embracing their potential and living authentically. This individual, in Rogers’ view, would likely continue to grow and evolve, moving beyond their own needs and connecting with something larger than themselves. This could manifest in various ways:

• Deeply engaging with the world: This could involve dedicating oneself to a cause, contributing to society, or fostering meaningful relationships.
• Experiencing a sense of unity: This might involve feeling connected to nature, humanity, or a higher power.
• Finding meaning and purpose: This could involve discovering a sense of purpose that transcends personal desires and contributes to something larger than oneself.

Rogers might argue that self-transcendence isn’t a destination but a continuous journey of growth and connection. It’s about expanding our sense of self to embrace the interconnectedness of all things.

Think of it like this:

• Maslow’s hierarchy is like a map of the terrain, showing the different levels of human needs and motivations.
• Rogers’ seven stages are like a compass, guiding us through the process of self-discovery and Self-actualization.

As we move through Rogers’ stages, we might revisit and deepen our understanding of any level of Maslow’s hierarchy. For example:

• Stage 1: The organismic valuing process might lead to a deeper appreciation of our physiological needs (Maslow’s base level) as we become more aware of our bodily sensations and needs.
• Stage 2: The self-concept might help us understand our safety and security needs (Maslow’s second level) as we develop a stronger sense of identity and self-worth.
• Stage 3: The ideal self might push us to seek love and belonging (Maslow’s third level) as we strive to live up to our values and ideals.

And so on. The journey is not simply about moving up Maslow’s hierarchy, but about continually refining and integrating all levels of our being.

This is where Rogers’ emphasis on the individual’s subjective experience comes into play. Each person’s journey is unique, and the way they navigate Maslow’s hierarchy will be shaped by their individual experiences and perspectives.

How can the seven stages of process help individuals and groups achieve their goals and overcome challenges?

The seven stages of process are a framework for understanding and facilitating change in individuals and groups. They are: awareness, exploration, identification, preparation, action, integration and evaluation. Each stage has its own purpose, challenges and strategies for success. Here is a brief overview of how the seven stages of the process can help individuals and groups achieve their goals and overcome challenges:

• awareness: This is the stage where individuals or groups become aware of a need or desire for change. They may experience dissatisfaction, curiosity, frustration or inspiration. The challenge in this stage is to acknowledge the reality of the situation and the possibility of change. The strategy for success is to seek information, feedback and support from relevant sources.
• Exploration: This is the stage where individuals or groups explore the options and alternatives for change. They may conduct research, brainstorm ideas, consult experts or experiment with different approaches. The challenge in this stage is to avoid being overwhelmed by too much or too little information, and to remain open-minded and flexible. The strategy for success is to compare and contrast the pros and cons of each option and to align them with their values and vision.
• Identification: This is the stage where individuals or groups identify the specific goal or outcome they want to achieve and the steps they need to take to get there. They may set SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound) objectives, create action plans, assign roles and responsibilities or establish milestones and indicators. The challenge in this stage is to be realistic and optimistic about what can be accomplished, and to commit to the chosen course of action. The strategy for success is to communicate clearly, collaborate effectively and anticipate potential obstacles and solutions.
• Preparation: This is the stage where individuals or groups prepare themselves mentally, emotionally, physically and materially for the change. They may acquire new skills, knowledge or resources, develop positive attitudes or beliefs, manage stress or emotions or address any barriers or resistance. The challenge in this stage is to overcome fear, doubt or inertia and to build confidence and motivation. The strategy for success is to practice self-care, seek encouragement and reinforcement, and celebrate small wins and progress (baby steps).
• Action: This is the stage where individuals or groups implement the change by taking concrete actions that move them closer to their goal or outcome. They may execute their action plans, monitor their performance or results, adjust their strategies or tactics or cope with any difficulties or setbacks. The challenge in this stage is to maintain focus, energy and momentum and to deal with any unexpected events or consequences. The strategy for success is to be flexible, resilient and persistent and to seek feedback and support from others.
• integration: This is the stage where individuals or groups integrate the change into their daily lives by making it a habit, routine or norm. They may consolidate their learning, reinforce their behaviours, sustain their outcomes or transfer their skills or knowledge to other contexts. The challenge in this stage is to avoid complacency, regression or relapse and to cope with any resistance or opposition from others. The strategy for success is to review their achievements, acknowledge their efforts and rewards, and share their experiences and insights with others.
• Evaluation: This is the stage where individuals or groups evaluate the change by assessing its impact, effectiveness and satisfaction. They may measure their progress, outcomes or results against their objectives, indicators or standards, identify their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities or threats or solicit feedback from others. The challenge in this stage is to be honest, objective and constructive about what worked well and what could be improved. The strategy for success is to celebrate their successes, learn from their failures and plan for future changes.

The seven stages of process are not linear or sequential but rather cyclical and iterative. Individuals or groups may move back and forth between different stages depending on their needs, circumstances or preferences. The seven stages of process are not prescriptive or rigid but rather flexible and adaptable. Individuals or groups may modify them according to their goals, challenges or situations. The seven stages of process are not exclusive or exhaustive but rather inclusive and comprehensive. Individuals or groups may use them with other models, frameworks or tools that suit their purposes.

What are some examples of the seven stages of process in different contexts and domains?

• Here are some examples of the seven stages of process in different contexts and domains:
• In project management, the seven stages of process are also known as the project life cycle. The initiation stage involves defining the project scope, objectives, stakeholders and deliverables. The planning stage involves developing a detailed project plan, schedule, budget and risk management plan. The execution stage involves implementing the project plan and performing the tasks and activities. The monitoring stage involves tracking the project progress, performance and quality. The control stage involves identifying and resolving any issues or changes that may affect the project plan. The closure stage involves completing the project deliverables, closing the contracts and documenting the lessons learned. The evaluation stage involves assessing the project outcomes, benefits and impacts.
• In software development, the seven stages of process are also known as the software development life cycle (SDLC). The initiation stage involves identifying the software requirements, feasibility and scope. The planning stage involves designing the software architecture, modules and interfaces. The execution stage involves coding, testing and debugging the software. The monitoring stage involves verifying and validating the software functionality and quality. The control stage involves managing any changes or defects that may occur during the development process. The closure stage involves deploying, installing and maintaining the software. The evaluation stage involves reviewing and improving the software performance and usability.
• In scientific research, the seven stages of process are also known as the scientific method. The initiation stage involves posing a question or a problem that needs to be investigated. The planning stage involves conducting a literature review, forming a hypothesis and designing an experiment. The execution stage involves conducting the experiment and collecting data. The monitoring stage involves analysing and interpreting the data. The control stage involves evaluating and refining the hypothesis based on the data. The closure stage involves drawing conclusions and reporting the results. The evaluation stage involves discussing the implications, limitations and applications of the results.

What are some limitations and criticisms of the seven stages of process model?

The seven stages of process model has been widely used and applied in various fields of counselling and psychotherapy, as well as in education, health care, and social work. However, it has also been subject to some limitations and criticisms, such as:

• It is too linear and sequential, implying that individuals move through the stages in a fixed order and at a uniform pace, which may not reflect the complexity and diversity of human experience.
• It is too cognitive and rational, focusing on conscious decision-making and problem-solving, which may neglect the role of emotions, intuition, and creativity in the change process.
• Furthermore, it is too individualistic and self-centred, assuming that individuals are autonomous agents who can initiate and control their own change, which may ignore the influence of social, cultural, and environmental factors on their behaviour and well-being.
• It is too optimistic and idealistic, suggesting that individuals can achieve positive outcomes and become fully functioning persons, which may overlook the challenges and difficulties that they may encounter along the way.

These limitations and criticisms do not necessarily invalidate the seven stages of process model, but they indicate that it should be used with caution and flexibility, considering the context and characteristics of each individual and situation.

Recommendations for future research and practice

One possible direction for future research and practice regarding the seven stages of process model is to examine how different types of interventions can facilitate or hinder the transition between stages.

For example, what kinds of feedback, coaching, mentoring, or training can help individuals move from awareness to interest, or from preparation to action?

Another possible direction is to explore how contextual factors, such as organizational culture, leadership support, peer influence, or external pressures, can affect the motivation and readiness of individuals to engage in change processes. How can these factors be leveraged or mitigated to foster a positive and conducive environment for change?

A third possible direction is to evaluate the outcomes and impacts of applying the seven stages of process model in various domains and settings. How can the model be adapted or customized to suit different types of changes, such as personal, professional, or organizational? What are the benefits and challenges of using the model in different contexts and situations? How can the model be integrated with other frameworks or tools for change management?

Further Reading

If you are interested in learning more about the seven stages of process, a theory developed by Carl Rogers to describe the changes that clients undergo in person-centred therapy, here are some weblinks that you can check out:

The 7 Stages of Process • counselling Tutor: This website provides a detailed explanation of each stage, with examples of typical client statements and tips for counsellors on how to work with clients at different stages.

Seven Stages of Process – Skill of reflection – counselling Tutor: This website offers a podcast episode where the hosts discuss the seven stages of process and how to use them in supervision and case studies. They also discuss the skill of reflection and how it can help clients move through the stages.

7 Stages of Process: This is a PDF document that summarizes the main characteristics and challenges of each stage, as well as the counsellor’s role and interventions.

038 – Law in counselling and Psychotherapy – Seven Stages of Process …: This website features another podcast episode where the hosts explore the legal and ethical issues that counsellors and psychotherapists may face in their practice. They also revisit the seven stages of process and give some examples of how clients may present at each stage.