Goal Setting in Therapy: Why It Matters and How to Do It Effectively
Do you incorporate goal setting in your initial therapy sessions? If not, here’s why you should.
Therapy goals provide structure, increase client engagement, and foster a collaborative therapeutic process. While initial goals don’t have to be overly specific, they give clients a sense of ownership over their treatment and enhance motivation by clarifying what’s most important to work on.
The Power of Goal Setting in Therapy
Setting clear therapy goals helps clients:
✔ Feel more engaged and motivated in therapy
✔ Gain a sense of direction for treatment
✔ Measure progress over time
✔ Work collaboratively with their psychologist
Many early-career psychologists worry about setting the “right” goals, or they may feel that they should set the goals for the client. However, goal setting should be a collaborative process. Clients should define their goals, while therapists guide them toward realistic and achievable outcomes.
How Psychologists Can Ask Clients About Their Therapy Goals
A simple and effective way to introduce goal setting is by asking:
🔹 "If we were to choose three things to focus on in therapy, what would they be?"
🔹 "What are three things you hope to get out of our time together?"
Many clients’ goals will start broadly, such as:
✔ "I want to reduce my time spent worrying."
✔ "I want to feel happier."✔ "I want my relationships to improve."
✔ "I want to leave my house without feeling anxious."
Other times, clients may express black-and-white thinking about their goals:
❌ "I never want to feel sad again."
❌ "I want to be completely worry-free."
When clients set unrealistic therapy goals, this is an opportunity to collaborate and help them reframe expectations. For example:
➡ Instead of "I never want to feel sad again," you might say, "A more realistic goal could be reducing how often or intensely you feel sad."
When to Prioritise Other Areas Over Therapy Goals
There are situations where immediate concerns take precedence over long-term therapy goals. These include:
1. Clients at Risk of Suicide or Self-Harm
If a client is experiencing suicidal thoughts or at risk of harming themselves or others, your priority is crisis management and risk reduction. While you can still discuss therapy goals, the immediate focus should be on suicide risk assessment and management.
2. Clients with Substance or Alcohol Use Disorders
Clients struggling with substance dependence often need to address their addiction first before making progress in other areas of therapy. However, their long-term therapy goals can serve as motivation to start addiction treatment or detox.
Helping Clients Who Struggle to Identify Therapy Goals
Some clients may not know what they want from therapy. If they struggle to articulate specific goals, you can:
✔ Use your clinical interview to suggest areas to focus on
✔ Offer broad goal-setting prompts and check in with them:
"Does that sound like a good place to start?"
"Would working on this be helpful for you?"
While being more directive can help in these cases, always ensure that the therapy goals remain client-centred rather than therapist-driven.
Reviewing and Updating Therapy Goals
Therapy goals should be dynamic—they should evolve as clients progress in therapy. If therapy feels stagnant or a client’s priorities shift, revisiting their goals can:
✔ Reinforce therapy engagement
✔ Provide a measure of progress
✔ Ensure treatment remains relevant and meaningful
Clients often gain deeper self-awareness as they work through therapy, leading to changes in their values and aspirations. Regularly reviewing therapy goals ensures that the work remains aligned with their evolving needs.
Final Thoughts: Why Goal Setting in Therapy is Essential
✔ Enhances client engagement and collaboration
✔ Helps track therapy progress over time
✔ Provides structure and direction in therapy
✔ Ensures therapy remains meaningful and client-centred
Identifying therapy goals is not just a best practice—it’s a fundamental part of effective psychological treatment. By incorporating goal setting from the start, you can enhance client motivation, improve therapeutic outcomes, and create a more structured therapy process.
✨ Want to improve your therapy skills? Explore my on-demand CPD courses, clinical templates, and psychology resources.