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.
To print this guide, use your browser’s Print command.
No email or account is required. Use the PDF or printed spaces for private notes. This guide does not collect worksheet answers. Save and reopen a completed PDF to check your notes.
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]