In the cycle of change, which stage best describes someone who has decided to take action and is actively seeking treatment?

• A. Contemplation
• B. Preparation
• C. Action
• D. Maintenance

Answer: (C)

In the stages of change, when a person has decided to take action and is actively pursuing treatment, that is the Action stage. This stage is defined by concrete behavior changes and active efforts to implement a plan, such as enrolling in a treatment program, attending sessions, or adhering to a treatment regimen. It goes beyond thinking about quitting or planning to quit; the person is actually doing things to change their behavior.

Contemplation involves weighing the options and undecided about acting. Preparation means making concrete plans and starting small steps but not yet fully changing behavior. Maintenance refers to sustaining the new behavior over time and preventing relapse. Therefore, actively seeking treatment demonstrates direct engagement in change, fitting the Action stage.