Encyclopedia of Counseling Practice Test 2026 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

The sequence being tested reflects a person’s readiness to change, not just a single action. In this model, someone starts in precontemplation, where they don’t intend to change. They may be unaware of the need to change. Next comes contemplation, when they recognize the issue and consider changing within a future timeframe. Then preparation, when they plan and get ready to take action soon, often taking small steps. After that is action, where they actively modify their behavior. Finally maintenance, where they work to sustain the new behavior over time and prevent relapse. This order—precontemplation → contemplation → preparation → action → maintenance—is exactly the standard progression. The other sequences mix stages in an illogical order (for example, contemplating change before acknowledging the problem, or attempting to maintain a behavior before taking action), which doesn’t fit how readiness to change develops.