Tips for writing effective treatment plans
I mean, who doesn’t love writing treatment plans, am I right? But let’s face it, treatment plans are no joke. They’re the key to unlocking your client’s full potential, and you don’t want to mess that up. So, let’s roll up our sleeves, put on our thinking caps, and have some fun crafting the most kick-ass treatment plans around!
First things first, collaboration is key, folks! It’s like a team sport, where every player brings their unique skills and strengths to the game. You can’t win without working together, just like you can’t create a successful treatment plan without involving the client in the process. And when you do, make sure they’re SMART. No, not like the smartest kid in the class, but SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Don’t be like a tourist setting out on a road trip without a map and set a goal to reach a destination without a clear plan, unless you’re up for an adventure.
Let’s look at some examples for anxiety, depression, and ADHD.
Anxiety:
- By mm/dd/yy, the client will decrease the frequency of panic attacks from daily to once a week by implementing coping skills to reduce panic attacks, resulting in decreased anxiety symptoms and improved daily functioning as measured by their score on the GAD-7.
- A shorter and simpler version might be: Reduce anxiety symptoms by 50% within six months (mm/dd/yy), as measured by the GAD-7 questionnaire.
Depression:
- By mm/dd/yy, the client will improve mood by increasing the number of days with positive mood from 2 to 5 per week through the implementation of behavioral activation techniques to increase pleasurable activities, resulting in improved quality of life by reducing depression symptoms as measured by their score on the PHQ-9.
- A simpler version of this could be: Improve mood by two points on the PHQ-9 within three months (mm/dd/yy).
ADHD:
- By mm/dd/yy, the client will improve time management by increasing on-time arrivals to work/school from 50% to 80% through the implementation of organizational strategies, resulting in improved daily functioning by reducing difficulties related to ADHD symptoms as measured by their score on the Vanderbilt ADHD scale.
- A shorter version could be: Increase productivity by 25% within four months (mm/dd/yy), as measured by the Time Management Skills Scale.
Boom! Now that’s SMART.
But wait, there’s more! Objectives are specific steps to achieve the goals. And since we’re feeling quirky today, let’s call them “baby steps.” You gotta take those baby steps to get to where you wanna be. While there is no limit to the number of objectives that can be included in a treatment plan, a good rule of thumb is 4-5. Let’s take a look at some examples:
Anxiety:
- Implement breathing techniques to reduce panic attack symptoms
- Challenge negative thoughts that trigger panic attacks
- Increase social support network to reduce anxiety symptoms
- Create a hierarchy of feared situations and gradually expose the client to them to reduce anxiety symptoms
Depression:
- Implement behavioral activation techniques to increase pleasurable activities
- Challenge negative thoughts that contribute to depressive symptoms
- Increase social support network to reduce depressive symptoms
- Create a plan for self-care and self-compassion to improve mood
ADHD:
- Implement organizational strategies to improve time management
- Practice mindfulness techniques to improve focus and attention
- Develop a routine to improve sleep hygiene
- Create a plan for regular exercise to improve mood and attention
You got this!
Now, let’s talk discharge goals. It’s like reaching the last level of a video game and defeating the boss, signaling that you have successfully accomplished your mission and can move on to the next one. In this context, it means you have met your treatment goals, and it’s time to celebrate and move forward with newfound skills and knowledge.
So, what are those discharge goals? For anxiety: demonstrate the ability to manage anxiety symptoms independently for one month without exacerbation. And for depression: demonstrate a stable mood for two months and have a strong support system in place. And last but not least, for ADHD: demonstrate improved time management skills and ability to complete tasks independently for three months.
Of course writing an effective treatment plan may not be the most exciting thing in the world, but it’s important. Collaborate with your client, set SMART goals, break them down into baby steps, and aim for those discharge goals. And don’t forget to have a little fun with it! As technology is advancing AI is now being implemented in software available to aide in streamlining our paperwork and giving us more time to spend with our clients.
