My Reasons for Making a Change
This is space to explore what matters to you. You do not have to produce a perfect reason, a diagnosis, or a promise about the future.
For: People seeking help or planning their own support · 2 PDF pages
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Original worked example: a reason becomes a question
| Part of the reflection | Fictional note |
|---|---|
| What matters | I want to be present for Saturday breakfast with my child. |
| What concerns me | I have been missing it and feel disconnected. |
| What makes change difficult | I worry about how I will manage evenings and whether I will be judged. |
| A step to explore | Ask a clinician about my concerns; ask my sister to help me arrange the appointment. |
The example is a planning exercise, not a recovery standard or treatment instruction. Your reasons may concern sleep, relationships, work, money, enjoyment, stability or something else.
My reasons, in my words
- What matters and what I have noticed
- Describe one situation and why it matters to you.
- What I want to keep, change or understand
- You can include mixed feelings and questions.
- One step I am willing to explore
- A question, contact or practical arrangement; any support I need.
If you want help discussing this, you can tell a trusted person what you need from the conversation. SAMHSA suggests being specific and starting small when a full conversation feels like too much.
Sources: [1]