Ponca Pines Academy

Together, our treatment team works to create a context for change and a path for recovery for each student, focusing on the stages of change. Behavior changes aren’t expected to happen overnight. For most young people, change happens in small steps. The five Stages of Change illustrate this journey:

1. Precontemplation
The student is moving from being uninterested, unaware or unwilling to make a change

2. Contemplation
Considering a change

3. Preparation
deciding and preparing to make a change

4. Action
making genuine, determined action

5. Maintenance
attempting to maintain the new behavior

AUTOBIOGRAPHY IN
FIVE SHORT CHAPTERS
by Portia Nelson

I
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk
I fall in.
I am lost...I am helpless.
It isn't my fault.
It takes me forever to find a way out.

II
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don't see it.
I fall in again.
I can't believe I am in the same place
but, it isn't my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.

III
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in...it's a habit.
my eyes are open
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.

IV
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.

V
I walk down another street.