Readiness for Change: A Psychosocial Support Module for Working With Urban Homeless Persons

Poverty, social exclusion, structural and psychological barriers are preventing homeless persons from productive main stream activities. While some are resistant to change, some had been found to be more than willing to escape their current conditions but lacks the needed psychosocial support. This module was developed based on a series of training sessions with homeless persons in Kuala Lumpur. Readiness for change enables the participants to be heard, reflect on their current situations and plan for a realistic step forward. This module gives the participants more than just basic necessities like food and temporary shelter that had been instituted through government agencies and NGO.

The module is based on Stages of Change model used in health psychology setting. It has been used to motivate individuals to make better choices and actions that would promote healthy lifestyle. No known published counselling module was designed specifically for homeless persons. This module is meant to provide a structured approach to working with homeless persons with the aim of facilitating them to help themselves make better life choices and actions. The module is developed by a team of Malaysian psychologists. The content of the module perhaps reflects a Malaysian approach to working with a marginalized group. However, the psychology team believe the module can be adapted to different cultural context.