Change phases show which part of the process a person is in.
In the Humanet model, change phases describe whether a person experiences their current situation as stable, begins to notice the first doubts, goes through overload and loss of control, or is already testing new ways of acting and learning from their effects.
What are change phases?
Change phases describe a person's current way of functioning in relation to changing conditions, needs, relationships and challenges. The point is not to judge whether someone simply wants or does not want change, but to recognise where they currently are in the process.
A person may experience stability and fit, begin to notice early signs of mismatch, feel overloaded and chaotic, or gradually test new strategies for acting. Each of these phases requires a different type of support and a different kind of work.
What does this dimension assess?
The change phases dimension shows how a person experiences their current situation and how they respond to signals that their previous way of functioning may be sufficient, weakened, overloaded or ready for reorganisation.
- the sense of stability, predictability and fit of the current way of functioning,
- growing doubt about previous methods, relationships, values or needs,
- the experience of being stuck, chaos, overload and difficulty coping,
- readiness to test new ways of acting and learn from their effects,
- the changing relationship between what used to be familiar and what is starting to be needed,
- the current stage of moving from stability towards possible reorganisation of life or action.
Four subscales of change phases
In the Humanet model, change phases include four qualitatively different subscales. They are not rigid categories, but help capture the dominant way a person experiences their current situation.
Stabilisation
A state in which the current way of functioning is predictable, matched and sufficient for everyday needs.
Doubt
The moment when earlier ways of acting, relationships or values begin to raise questions and lose their previous obviousness.
Crisis
A state of overload, chaos or being stuck, in which previous strategies no longer provide a sense of control or effectiveness.
Exploration
Actively testing new ways of acting, observing their consequences and gradually learning more adequate responses.
Stabilisation
Stabilisation describes a state in which the everyday way of functioning is relatively predictable, well matched and sufficient. A person feels that their current methods of coping work, that relationships and the environment provide a basic sense of safety, and that the need for change is not especially strong.
Doubt
Doubt appears when what used to be obvious begins to raise questions. A person may notice that some relationships, ways of solving problems, needs or values no longer give the same sense of meaning, satisfaction or effectiveness as before.
Crisis
Crisis describes a state in which a person experiences being stuck, overloaded or deprived of a sense of control. Previous coping strategies stop being enough, everyday life may feel chaotic, and relationships or decisions may become a source of tension or uncertainty.
Exploration
Exploration marks a stage of testing new ways of acting. The person begins to try different responses, observe their effects and distinguish between solutions that bring temporary relief and those that genuinely improve functioning.
Meaning in the change process
Change phases help people choose the right kind of support. In stabilisation, the priority may be to maintain good functioning and stay attentive to the first signs of mismatch. In doubt, it may be naming the questions and identifying what is no longer working. In crisis, reducing overload and rebuilding a sense of agency become central. In exploration, support is needed for testing, learning and consolidating new strategies.
This dimension shows that change does not begin only when action starts. Often there is a period of stability, then subtle doubt, then possible overload, and only later more conscious testing of new solutions.