Stage 3 – Concious Competence – If stage 2 is hell, this stage is purgatory. Through a persistent conscious effort to address incompetencies, the patient/client masters the ability, that is they become competent…but only with conscious, purposeful effort. This stage is where practice and repetition engrains the newly developed competency into one’s permanent behaviors. Putting this new-found ability into practice, practice, practice will help the individual to progress to the next stage of learning. Failing to practice can result into reverting to stage 2 or even 1.