Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (VDBHDS) Practice Test

The stage involves moving from thinking about change to getting ready to act soon. In the Preparation stage, a person has decided to change and is planning concrete steps to begin, often within a short time frame (like within the next month). They might set a specific goal, choose a start date, gather resources, and anticipate potential barriers, building motivation and confidence to act.

This fits best because it’s about readiness to act soon and actively planning, rather than merely weighing options (which happens in contemplation), or not considering change at all (precontemplation), or already making changes (action). For example, someone planning to quit smoking might set a quit date and start removing cigarettes and seeking support.