Transition Model by David Pollock

I have been studying Pollock's work  in looking at the transition(s) I'm about to make.  But I think they hold true for all of our transitions in life.  And there area lot of them!  Whether it's a move or a new job or new church... or a new baby or marriage or death of a loved one or retirement, it's healthy for us to find vocabulary for what's going on.  Though this does not excuse poor behavior or sin, knowing it is "normal" will help us in the journey.  Also, it will help us support the people around us.  When I look at my life, I'm asking many, many people to walk beside me - and I'm forcing a lot of transition in their lives as well - and the more we can talk about it, think about it and pray about it, the better the next few seasons will be.

Pollock uses a lits of words to describe how things "fit" socially and psychologically for 5 stages of transition.


1.  In Being INVOLVED  (This is where you are at home – what you are used to)

Belonging
Inclusion in group
Reputation
Position
Known (friends: confide, listen)
Commitment
Responsive
Responsible
Be Friend
Intimacy
Affirmed
Secure
Safe


2.  In LEAVING

Separating
Closure
Recognition
Farewells (Celebration)
Withdrawal/Exclusion
Feeling Betrayed
Disengaging
Relinquish roles
Distance
Criticism
Loosen ties/conflict
New relationships
Closure
Denial
Rejection
Resentment
Grief/Sadness
Postpone Good-byes
Emphasize Future
Idealize
Expectations


3. In TRANSITION

Unknown
No Status
No Structure
Clueless
Chaos
Exaggerated problems
Exaggerated behavior
Misunderstanding/
Ambiguity
Self Centered
Isolation
Anxiety
Fearful
Uncertainty(schedule, job, duties, care)
Dreams
Emotional Instability
Grief
Disappointment


4. In ENTERING 

Marginal
Superficiality
Tentative Acceptance
Uncertain of placement & use
Misinterpret
behaviors/signals
Searching “mentors”
Introducing
Marginal
Observing
Risk Taking (good & bad)
Special Knowledge without use
Uncertain of knowledge
Must initiate relationships
Searching for “mentor”
Trust Issues
Vulnerable
Loss of self-esteem
Loss of continuity with past (sacred objects)
Loss of identity
Ambivalent
Psychosomatic problems
Grief Processing
Depression

5.  In RE-ENGAGING  (This is where the new situation feels like home.)

Belonging
Inclusion in group
Reputation
Position
Known (friends: confide, listen)
(Outsider/Newcomer)
Commitment
Responsive
Responsible
Friend
(Surprise adjustments)
Intimacy
Affirmed
Secure
Safe
(Alien)

Comments

Unknown said…
HI April, My name is Laura Anderson and I'm a missionary, formerly working in Mozambique but now based in the US creating support services for our organization's missionaries. I have David Pollack's Transition Model and was looking for it online to find an introduction to it. I found your blog (second option!) and I liked you wrote your intro. I wondered if I could use it, giving you credit for it? If you prefer I don't, it's not a problem. There's probably one he has written somewhere but yours is so approachable. Take care, Laura
7:49 PM
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