Think about the last time a client seemed stuck.

Maybe they said they wanted to change a behavior, such as start exercising, set boundaries, or limit alcohol use, but week after week, nothing seemed to shift. They kept returning with the same frustrations, unsure why change felt impossible.

As a therapist, it can be tempting to assume that insight alone should lead to action. But what if the client isn't resisting change, they’re just in a different stage of it?

This is where the Transtheoretical Model of Change provides a powerful therapeutic lens. Developed by Prochaska and DiClemente, this framework outlines a nonlinear, cyclical process that people move through when modifying behavior: Precontemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action, Maintenance, and sometimes Relapse.

Understanding the stages of change can transform the way you support clients through growth and healing. This guide will walk you through each stage and offer practical strategies for meeting clients exactly where they are.

What Is the Stages of Change Model?

Before we dive into each stage, it’s important to understand the foundation. What exactly is the Stages of Change model, and why is it so widely used in therapeutic work?

Because change is rarely linear. Clients often arrive in our offices expressing a desire to change, but that doesn’t mean they’re ready to take action. This model gives us a language and structure for understanding where a client is in their journey, and what kind of support will actually be effective at that point in time. 

Why It Matters in Therapy

Understanding this model isn’t just about theory. It’s about improving your therapeutic relationship and outcomes. Let’s now take a closer look at what each stage entails.

The Six Stages of Change

Each stage of change comes with unique challenges, needs, and opportunities for support. Here’s how you can recognize and work with clients at every step of the journey.

Stage 1: Precontemplation — “This isn’t a problem.”

At this point, your client likely isn’t looking to change, at least not yet. Your job isn’t to convince them, but to gently raise awareness.

In the precontemplation stage, clients may not see their behavior as problematic, or may feel change is impossible. They might have been pushed into therapy by a partner, parent, or court mandate, and arrive with defensiveness or avoidance. Statements like “That’s just how I am” or “It’s not that bad” are common.

As a therapist, your role is to build rapport and create a space where curiosity can emerge. Instead of confronting or educating too soon, focus on reflective listening, validating their current experience, and exploring discrepancies between their values and behavior. Motivational Interviewing is particularly effective here. The goal isn’t to push for change. It’s to plant seeds.

Stage 2: Contemplation — “Maybe I should change...”

If a client moves into contemplation, there’s a flicker of possibility. But ambivalence runs high here, and pressure can backfire.

Clients in contemplation begin to recognize that their behavior may be problematic,but they’re also weighing the costs and benefits of changing. This can be a frustrating stage for therapists because clients often appear stuck or indecisive. “I know I should stop drinking… but it’s how I cope,” or “I want to leave, but what if it’s worse?”

In this stage, validate the ambivalence instead of trying to resolve it. Help clients explore both sides of their internal conflict using tools like a decisional balance worksheet. Highlight their own language around desire or concern, and gently reflect their readiness. The goal here is to support insight and build motivation without creating pressure.

Stage 3: Preparation — “I’m ready to start.”

This stage is where the energy starts to build. Clients are getting ready to take action, and thoughtful planning is key.

Clients in the preparation stage are no longer just thinking about change; they’re planning for it. They might start researching support groups, cutting back, or setting a quit date. They’re hopeful but also anxious, aware of potential challenges.

Your role is to support that momentum with concrete, collaborative planning. Help them set realistic goals, anticipate obstacles, and identify support systems. Develop contingency plans for stressors and setbacks. This is a great time to introduce skills training, connect clients with external resources, or create behavioral experiments. 

Stage 4: Action — “I’m actively doing the work.”

Now the behavior shift is happening, but change requires structure, accountability, and support to stick.

In the action stage, clients are actively modifying their behavior like quitting smoking, setting boundaries, and going to therapy consistently. This is a high-risk, high-reward stage. Progress is happening, but relapse is still possible if the foundation isn’t strong.

As a therapist, focus on reinforcing the change process. Offer frequent validation, track progress, and help clients navigate challenges without shame. Encourage self-monitoring, celebrate small wins, and reflect on how change is impacting their sense of identity. Support systems and structure (like routines or peer accountability) are critical here. The client needs to feel both capable and supported.

Stage 5: Maintenance — “I want to stay on track.”

Once the initial momentum fades, it’s your job to help clients stay consistent. Maintenance takes just as much attention as action.

 At this stage, clients have sustained change for a while and are working to prevent backsliding. But complacency, life stressors, or unresolved emotional issues can cause old habits to creep back in.

In this phase, reinforce long-term coping strategies, revisit what’s worked, and help clients reflect on their growth. Continue developing relapse prevention plans and explore new goals to keep them engaged. This stage is also an opportunity to shift from symptom management to deeper self-work, such as exploring core beliefs, identity shifts, or relationship patterns.

Stage 6: Relapse — “I fell back into old patterns.”

Relapse is often misunderstood as failure, but it's an expected part of the change cycle. How you respond can make all the difference.

Clients may return to old behaviors after a stressful event, emotional trigger, or period of vulnerability. The shame that follows can be intense, and how therapists respond in this stage can either deepen that shame or transform the experience into growth.

Instead of framing relapse as failure, normalize it as part of the learning process. Help clients explore what led to the setback, what it reveals about their needs, and how to respond differently next time. Rebuild their sense of efficacy and recommit to the change process, often starting again at contemplation or preparation. Each relapse can strengthen the client's resilience when met with compassion and insight.

How Therapists Can Apply the Stages of Change Model

Now that you’ve got a clear picture of each stage, how do you actually apply this in the therapy room? Let’s explore some actionable strategies.

Tailoring Interventions to Readiness

Trying to rush a client into action when they’re not ready often leads to resistance. Meeting them where they are is not just ethical, it’s effective.

This is where Motivational Interviewing (MI) becomes a powerful therapeutic approach. Developed by Miller and Rollnick, MI is a client-centered, directive method for enhancing intrinsic motivation to change by exploring and resolving ambivalence. Instead of persuading clients to change, MI helps them uncover their own reasons for wanting change. In their own words and on their own terms.

Motivational Interviewing aligns beautifully with the Stages of Change model because it respects readiness, reduces defensiveness, and strengthens a client’s confidence and capacity to take steps when they’re ready. It emphasizes evocation,  drawing out the client’s values, goals, and discrepancies between current behavior and desired identity, rather than imposing the therapist’s agenda.

Avoiding Therapist Burnout

It’s not just about clients. This model also supports you as the clinician by easing the pressure to create immediate results when a client is still processing.

 In the helping professions, it's easy to fall into the trap of over-functioning, feeling responsible for a client’s progress, mistaking insight for readiness, or taking their ambivalence personally. This sense of urgency can lead to emotional fatigue, self-doubt, and ultimately, burnout. We may start questioning our clinical skills or feel stuck in cycles of frustration and helplessness.

The Stages of Change reminds us that sustainable change is a gradual, nonlinear process. Clients may revisit the same stage multiple times before progressing. By recognizing where a client truly is, rather than where we hope they would be, we can set more realistic goals, practice patience, and preserve our own emotional energy.

How to Meet Clients Where They Are

At its core, the Stages of Change model is a framework for compassion. It reminds us that every client has their own pace, process, and pathway to growth.

Therapy isn’t about dragging people forward. It’s about walking alongside them with curiosity, patience, and respect.

When you honor each stage, you create space for authentic, sustainable change that reflects the client’s true readiness, not just external pressure.