The Purdue Stepped Approach Model

This article presents an implementation strategy for health counseling based on the Purdue Stepped Approach Model (PM). The PM increases the intensity of interventions presented in a series. Selected issues in behavioral and health counseling that led to the development of the model, including cost-effectiveness, response of clients to treatment, and client commitment to and involvement in the therapeutic process, are discussed. A description of and empirical support for the PM are provided. Procedures and an example of the model's application to health counseling are included. Several potential benefits of the stepped approach are also discussed.