The authors suggest that when counselors have a rich understanding of pretreatment changes, they are better able to assist clients in capitalizing on such changes. The current study examined client perceptions of pretreatment changes. Thirty-six clients completed Q-sorts pertaining to pretreatment changes they experienced. Four factors pertaining to client perceptions of pretreatment change emerged from the study: problem legitimacy, spiritual resources, ambivalence, and hope. Clinical implications for working with the different pretreatment changes that emerged from this study are discussed.