Which stage of Motivational Interviewing involves planning for change?

The correct stage that involves planning for change is the Preparation stage. In this phase, individuals are ready to take action and begin formulating a plan to change their behavior. They typically have made the decision to change and are gathering resources, strategies, or support to help them implement that change effectively.

During the Preparation stage, individuals might set specific goals or identify small steps they can take towards their desired change. This proactive approach differentiates it from the earlier stages, such as Precontemplation and Contemplation, where the focus is on recognizing and pondering the need for change without concrete plans to act on those thoughts. The Maintenance stage, on the other hand, comes after change has been made and focuses on sustaining that change over the long term, rather than planning for it.