Which option best lists the stages of change used to assess readiness?

• A. Initiation, growth, maturation, relapse
• B. Pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance
• C. Assessment, planning, execution, evaluation
• D. Awareness, commitment, action, consolidation

Answer: (B)

The correct sequence reflects the stages of change model, which tracks a person’s readiness to modify a behavior. It starts with being unaware or not intending to change (pre-contemplation), then recognizing the issue and considering change (contemplation), moving toward action with concrete plans (preparation), actually changing the behavior (action), and sustaining those changes over time to prevent slipping back (maintenance). This progression helps you tailor coaching to where someone is in their journey and guide them to the next step.

Other sequences don’t match this established flow. One option describes general development stages and includes relapse as a relapse event rather than a formal stage. Another frames change as a generic cycle of assessment and planning, which isn’t specific to readiness. And a sequence that uses awareness and commitment but ends with consolidation isn’t the standard five-stage progression used to assess readiness.