A woman begins assessing both formal and informal support resources. It is in this stage that she is most likely to make initial contact with formal support providers (e.g., treatment centers, support groups) available within her community and to speak with family and friends about life “on the outside.” Although some action is evident (e.g., phone calls to treatment centers), little, if any, behavioral change actually occurs. Thus this stage is characterized by cognitive processing as well as data and information gathering. Given individual variability and personal initiative, length of time spent in this stage could vary dramatically. It is important to point out, however, that the woman may be acting on her own accord (i.e., personal desire to exit) or may be forced by others (e.g., family, children’s services, the criminal justice system) to start planning her exit.
Baker, L. M., Dalla, R. L., & Williamson, C. (2010). Exiting prostitution: An integrated model. Violence against women, 16(5), 579-600.