Article: Krebs, P., Norcross, J. C., Nicholson, J. M., & Prochaska, J. O. (2018). Stages of change and psychotherapy outcomes: A review and meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 74(11), 1964-1979.

https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.20758

I chose this article because as I have transitioned from behavioral-health roles into counseling, I have become increasingly aware that client readiness—or more precisely, their stage in the change process—makes a meaningful difference in how effectively I can guide interventions. The article by Krebs et al. helps ground that awareness in research: across 76 studies and more than 25,900 clients, they found indications that clients who enter therapy at a more advanced stage of change tend to have better outcomes.

What impacted me most was their emphasis that it’s not just what we do in the session, but when and how we do it relative to where the client is. For example, a client in “precontemplation” may benefit less from action-oriented interventions and more from exploring ambivalence, whereas a client in “preparation” is more ready for concrete change planning. This aligns with my interest in using motivational interviewing (MI) strategies and tailoring interventions rather than applying a one-size-fits-all model.

Professionally, this article influenced my growth by sharpening my focus on integrating stage‐of‐change assessment into the intake/early phase of counseling. It has helped me ask questions like: “What brings you here now? How ready do you feel to make a change? What might it take for you to feel ready?” On a personal level, it reminded me of the importance of patience and timing—letting the client’s pace lead rather than pushing too fast—and of recognizing ambivalence as normal rather than as resistance to be overcome. As I complete my graduate program in counseling and move toward licensure in Pennsylvania, I plan to keep this framework in mind by selecting interventions aligned with client readiness, using MI and stage‐matched strategies to increase engagement and outcome success.