What Is a Treatment Plan in Therapy?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDeveloping a Treatment PlanTypesTreatment GoalsUpdating Your Plan

Table of ContentsView All

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Table of Contents

Developing a Treatment Plan

Types

Treatment Goals

Updating Your Plan

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Intherapy, a treatment plan refers to the specific goals you have for therapy and interventions your therapist might use to help you reach these goals. Typically, a treatment plan is created early on in the therapeutic process, and it serves as a guideline to drive your sessions in a way that fits with what you hope to achieve.

Treatment plans are usually updated on a regular basis, often every six months or so, to allow for changes in your priorities and to reflect the progress you have made.

If something in your life shifts, you and your therapist do not have to wait. Your treatment plan can change anytime in order to continue serving your needs.

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How Is a Treatment Plan Developed?

A treatment plan is often discussed in thefirst therapy sessionor a session early in therapy. A common question your therapist will ask you is some variation of, “What do you hope to get out of coming to therapy?” They might also ask something like, “What are your goals for treatment?” or “How would you know if things have improved?”

Often, people go to therapy because they have a sense thatsomething is wrong with them, even if they do not have the ability to articulate what it is or how to fix it.

Remember that a therapist is an expert on their specific treatment approach, but you are the expert on yourself. Your therapist relies on you to tell them your history, symptoms, and needs, and you can share what your priorities are in treatment.

Sometimes people are so used to theirdepression,anxiety, orintrusive thoughtsthat they do not realize that these symptoms are impacting their well-being, relationships, or daily functioning.

Your therapist might make connections that you did not see and have ideas about your treatment plan based on these observations. This collaborative approach to developing the treatment plan can ensure that you make progress in therapy.

Therapy is sometimes uncomfortable, so your therapist might encourage you to try something even if you feel uncertain. If you have goodrapportand trust with your therapist, you can work through your discomfort together. However, it is also OK to say “No” to something your therapist suggests if you are not ready or do not feel that it is right for you.

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Types of Treatment Plans

Typically, a treatment plan will include goals you want to achieve through therapy as well as specific interventions that your therapist might utilize to help you achieve those goals. Some examples of how a therapist might approach selecting interventions for your treatment plan include:

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Treatment goals can be just about anything that you want to achieve through therapy. They must be things that a therapist can help you with, and they can evolve over time. Many therapists use theSMART goal model, creating therapy goals that are:

Some examples of treatment goals might be:

There is no one “right” goal to have when you enter therapy, and your therapist can help you decide what goals will benefit you and improve your life.

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When to Update a Treatment Plan

Many therapists update clients’ treatment plans about once every six months. This allows enough time for the client to make progress in their goals and gain insight into what changes they want to see in their lives.

However, you do not have to wait, and you and your therapist can update your treatment plan at other times as well.

If you experience arelapse, or your symptoms worsen, you might need to shift your goals to reflect how your needs have changed. If you experience atraumatic eventor personal crisis, it might require a more immediate focus in your therapy than previous goals.

You might also notice that you have achieved one or more of your treatment goals, and you might want to talk to your therapist about focusing on another area of your mental health. Similarly, if your therapist notices that you have made significant progress in one area, they might ask if you are ready to adjust your treatment plan.

Treatment plans are an important part of the therapeutic process. They inform your treatment and allow you and your therapist to work together and help you reach your mental health goals.

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Hannah Owens, LMSW

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