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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by sdjeff on January 20, 2005, at 1:31:15
Hi,
I think this is my first post here on pych.
I have a new T. She wants me to come up with 3 goals for therapy. This is hard, I can't come up with anything. I am just not a goal oriented person. What can I do to come up with something?!?!
Yours in frustration
Posted by rainbowbrite on January 20, 2005, at 1:43:08
In reply to Goals!?!?, posted by sdjeff on January 20, 2005, at 1:31:15
Hi!
I would start by asking myself whay i started therapy. im not a goal oriented person itehr so i empathize with you. what about your life were you trying to improve or change. I think when you get some ideas from that out it might be easier. im trying to think of an exaomle for me but geez its tough! ok heres one, my goal might be to deal with my anger or learn to mange aggression better. does that help?
Posted by alexandra_k on January 20, 2005, at 3:47:44
In reply to Goals!?!?, posted by sdjeff on January 20, 2005, at 1:31:15
Ahh, goals eh, I remember this...
Something like reducing anxiety / depression usually goes down well.
Improving relationships / developing social skills.
How are you for food, sleep, and exercise?
You might want to learn about (improve your motivation for) eating well, exercising, strategies for sleeping better etc.
They are typically looking for things that they believe they can help you with.
Some are more or less willing to help you formulate them. They will usually reformulate them in a way that makes them happier anyways.
Sorry, I am a bit of a cynic :-(
Hope that was helpful to you though.
Posted by alexandra_k on January 20, 2005, at 3:49:15
In reply to Re: Goals!?!? » sdjeff, posted by alexandra_k on January 20, 2005, at 3:47:44
You can always say you have thought of one - you would like help formulating three goals!
I tried that... didn't go down too well though :-(
Posted by Dinah on January 20, 2005, at 6:52:11
In reply to Goals!?!?, posted by sdjeff on January 20, 2005, at 1:31:15
What are some things you aren't happy about your life right now? What things are in your control to change to make them better? If you can't answer the second, maybe your therapist can help you if you present the first.
As an example, I am extremely frustrated by my inability to work right now. So I'm planning to call my therapist and say. "I'm desparate. I'm willing to talk. Can you help me figure out how to work again." Stated differently that would be a therapy goal. I'd like to be able to figure out what I need to do to work efficiently again.
What are some specific areas in your life that need the most change?
Posted by Dinah on January 20, 2005, at 6:53:44
In reply to Re: Goals!?!?, posted by alexandra_k on January 20, 2005, at 3:49:15
lol. Oh, Alexandra, I wish I could drop ship my therapist to you for a while. You've met too many humorless therapists.
That sounds like something I'd say, and he's managed to put up with me. :)
Posted by Tabitha on January 20, 2005, at 13:49:05
In reply to Goals!?!?, posted by sdjeff on January 20, 2005, at 1:31:15
I guess start with thinking about what you want to improve-- what brought you to therapy in the first place? When I started I was generally miserable and had awful relationships-- so helping those areas were my personal goals.
Posted by alexandra_k on January 20, 2005, at 15:30:51
In reply to Re: Goals!?!? » alexandra_k, posted by Dinah on January 20, 2005, at 6:53:44
> lol. Oh, Alexandra, I wish I could drop ship my therapist to you for a while. You've met too many humorless therapists.
:-)
> That sounds like something I'd say, and he's managed to put up with me. :)Ya. It was just an excuse, I know that. I wonder if sdjeff will have to do a round two of operationalising said goals next time?
(I am kidding - don't worry you WONT have to do that).
Posted by sdjeff on January 21, 2005, at 0:46:21
In reply to Re: Goals!?!? » Dinah, posted by alexandra_k on January 20, 2005, at 15:30:51
Thanks everyone for your input. I do appreciate it.
With your help, I have come up with one goal. My parents have been extraordinarily helpful and supportive, even years before I was diagnosed. For reasons I can't yet identify, I sometimes really treat them like crap and as a general rule I'm very closed off with them. I think a good goal would be to treat my parents better and learn to communicate with them on some level.
That's one down, two to go.
Posted by alexandra_k on January 21, 2005, at 9:41:42
In reply to Re: Goals!?!?, posted by sdjeff on January 21, 2005, at 0:46:21
That is a great one, good for you!
:-)
Posted by gardenergirl on January 21, 2005, at 21:09:43
In reply to Re: Goals!?!? » sdjeff, posted by alexandra_k on January 20, 2005, at 3:47:44
Good examples given. Just had one reaction I thought I'd share:
> Some are more or less willing to help you formulate them. They will usually reformulate them in a way that makes them happier anyways.
Ummm, guilty of that. But I rationalize it makes my supervisor happy.
:)
gg
Posted by alexandra_k on January 22, 2005, at 1:21:14
In reply to Re: Goals!?!? » alexandra_k, posted by gardenergirl on January 21, 2005, at 21:09:43
> > Some are more or less willing to help you formulate them. They will usually reformulate them in a way that makes them happier anyways.
> Ummm, guilty of that. But I rationalize it makes my supervisor happy.> :)
Heh heh. I suppose you need to operationalise goals so as to figure out what to *do* to treat them. Rephrasing them to make it more apparant which handouts and worksheets and so on apply for each goal. So as to construct a little checklist of what is being aimed for (reduction in that improvement in this). Get people to rate themselves currently then after 6 weeks then 12.
Yay, improvement! A cost effective treatment program.
I am too cynical.
I am sorry :-(Goals and rating scales became a sticking point with me.
Life is just not that simple.
Not mine anyway.
sorry
Posted by just plain jane on January 22, 2005, at 1:27:35
In reply to Re: Goals!?!?, posted by sdjeff on January 21, 2005, at 0:46:21
> With your help, I have come up with one goal. My parents have been extraordinarily helpful and supportive, even years before I was diagnosed. For reasons I can't yet identify, I sometimes really treat them like crap and as a general rule I'm very closed off with them. I think a good goal would be to treat my parents better and learn to communicate with them on some level.
>
> That's one down, two to go.I count two down and one to go:
1. learn how to consistently treat them better
2. learn how to communicate with them on some (any?) level
two separate issues with differing objectives and means to meeting those goals.
eh, no?
just plain jane
Posted by sdjeff on January 23, 2005, at 0:36:59
In reply to Re: Goals!?!? » sdjeff, posted by just plain jane on January 22, 2005, at 1:27:35
> > With your help, I have come up with one goal. My parents have been extraordinarily helpful and supportive, even years before I was diagnosed. For reasons I can't yet identify, I sometimes really treat them like crap and as a general rule I'm very closed off with them. I think a good goal would be to treat my parents better and learn to communicate with them on some level.
> >
> > That's one down, two to go.
>
> I count two down and one to go:
>
> 1. learn how to consistently treat them better
>
> 2. learn how to communicate with them on some (any?) level
>
> two separate issues with differing objectives and means to meeting those goals.
>
> eh, no?
>
> just plain jane
Hey, You're right! Thanks for the insight. I guess it's two down, one to go. This goal stuff is harder than I thought.
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