When Progress Doesn’t Look Like Progress | EP 255

Sometimes a client knows something needs to change, but that does not necessarily mean they are ready to change it yet. Other times they seem to be making real progress and then suddenly slip back into old habits. As a coach, those moments can be frustrating if we expect change to move in a straight line. 

Maria and Cody walk through the six stages of change—pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, and relapse—and explore what those stages can teach us about meeting clients where they actually are. They also spend time on an important distinction that can be easy to miss: preparing to change can sometimes feel a lot like taking action, even when the real change has not started yet.   

Cody also shares a practical exercise he uses to help clients think ahead about a possible financial relapse, including what it might look like, how it could affect them, and what they could do to respond. Maria adds another layer by encouraging clients to think about what might lead up to the relapse in the first place so they can begin recognizing the pattern earlier.   

Understanding the stages does not give us control over someone else's change. It gives us language for understanding the process, helps us ask better questions, and can give both the coach and the client a little more patience and grace along the way.  

🎧 Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode

If this conversation has you thinking about how you help clients navigate change, here are a few ways we can support you.

Start with THE Financial Coaches Network, our private space for coaches to connect, ask questions, and keep growing alongside others who understand the work.

If you're looking for a clearer path to build your coaching practice, take a look at Getting Started as a Financial Coach.

You can also join our free Facebook group, THE Financial Coaches Community, to connect with other coaches, ask questions, and be part of the conversation.

If you'd like to talk through where you are or what your next step might be, you can schedule a call with us here.

Have a question for the podcast? Email us at [email protected].

Music by Summer School.

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