Claes Janssen

Claes F. Janssen is a renowned Swedish psychologist, writer and associate professor at Stockholm University. Claes describes the Four Rooms of Change in this way:

The Four Rooms of Change is a psychological theory, describing change as a move through four psychological stages or 'rooms'. In all change, we move from a Contentment, which is lost, via a period in Denial, which is a defense of the old, through Confusion, which ends when we give up whatever it is of the old that had to be given up. The giving up is the turning point, making us open to the possibilities, the new, whereby we move on to Renewal.

Claes's work first made its way into the mainstream through his connection with Marvin R. Weisbord, who has described the Future Search conference, which he now specializes in facilitating, as a journey through these rooms. Marvin published the Four Rooms of Change in his book 'Productive Workplaces' and they continue to collaborate today.

The Four Rooms of Change are also known as 'The Four Roomed Apartment' and 'The Change House'. Claes's work has been extensively published in Swedish and his first books in English are due to be published late in 2010.