Readiness Ruler for Change Motivation

A readiness ruler helps clients name a change goal, rate how important it feels, and identify what would make the next step easier.

Motivational interviewingAssessmentProgress reviewBehavior change

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Tool guide

Learn more about this tool

Use this background section to understand when the tool fits, how practitioners use it, and what to consider before sharing it with clients.

What this tool helps with

Use it when a client is considering a behavior change and needs a simple way to compare importance, confidence, and readiness.

How practitioners use it

Practitioners can adapt the wording, share the tool with a client, and use the response to guide motivational interviewing or coaching next steps.

When not to use it

Do not use it as a diagnosis or as a substitute for clinical judgement, crisis support, or a full risk assessment.

What is a readiness ruler?

It is a short scaling exercise that asks how important, confident, and ready someone feels about a specific change.

Can therapists customize it?

Yes. In Qwoach, practitioners can save the tool and adjust the prompts before sharing it with clients.