Re:Writing Effective Treatment Plans

"While I do rely on behavioral and RET strategies, I am first and foremost a humanist. Sometimes at the beginning of therapy, a client doesn't know what resolution they want to arrive at, and I hate to railroad someone too soon into any particular direction."
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Some rambling thoughts related to humanism and railroading ...

In "real life," as opposed to therapy, people set their course (even if not entirely consciously) and then steer themselves as they are carried farther downstream. They've got a distant star in mind, at least they can sort of make one out in those moments when they can lift themselves out of the routine of steering around obstacles. But they also have someplace very specific they are going in the mean time while they are heading to the more distant point.

The problem we sometimes have with setting objectives is not that they might be the wrong ones, short term objectives are always transient by their nature. Just a brief detour. We often learn even more from detours as we do from staying on the mapped course.

The problem is when the short term objective strains us in a direction that crashes us on the rocks because we can't respond to the need to adjust.

Setting objectives that make sense at the beginning of a journey is generally helpful, even when they turn out later to be detours. Sticking with objectives when we recognize that they no longer make sense is the hazard, letting the objectives structure the process to such an extent that we either do no good or even do harm.

I believe strongly in setting goals and also quantifying them as far as possible, but then also being observant and flexible in resetting them. That way you're always heading somewhere, but you're also aware that it's an ongoing journey.

How this plays with organizational and insurance requirements is another story ...

kind regards,

Todd

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