What to Know About Setting Goals for Treatment
The primary purpose of mental health treatment is to help clients achieve mental wellness. In order to do this effectively, clients set personal, achievable goals for themselves.
To get the most out of mental health treatment, you need a treatment plan that’s personalized to your mental health journey. Just as every individual is unique, so too is their journey toward achieving mental wellness.
Setting treatment goals helps you and your therapist tailor your treatment plan to your specific needs and desired outcomes. Let’s take a look at examples of goals to work on in treatment, as well as how to effectively set treatment goals.
Goals to Work on in Treatment and Therapy
At times, managing mental health challenges can feel overwhelming. This can make you question if you’re actually making improvements during therapy. Treatment goals provide direction while you’re on your mental health journey, allowing you to focus on your improvements and desired outcomes.
In many ways, treatment goals are just as important to your therapist as they are for you. They allow your therapist to tailor their approach to better suit your specific needs. Treatment goals can also provide feedback for your therapist, which helps them track your progress and adjust their approach accordingly.
Read our related article to learn about different types of therapy for mental health.
Examples of Treatment Goals
Treatment goals reflect what you hope to accomplish in treatment or therapy. They’re usually broad, long-term outcomes that serve as a roadmap for improvement. No matter how big or small they are, treatment goals are crucial to your mental health journey.
Some common examples of treatment goals include:
- Achieve sobriety
- Manage anxiety or depression
- Manage stress
- Improve emotional regulation
- Improve social skills
- Enhance self-esteem
- Overcome trauma
Whether you’re in therapy, inpatient treatment, or addiction recovery, goals are important for keeping you on track towards becoming who you want to be.
At Sequoia Behavioral Health, we designed our Residential Treatment Program with rest and recovery in mind.
Examples of Treatment Objectives
Treatment objectives are specific, short-term steps that help you accomplish your overarching treatment goals. If you think of treatment goals as the final destinations, then treatment objectives are the stops along the way. They serve as measurable checkpoints that break your goals down into smaller, more manageable parts.
Some common examples of treatment objectives include:
- Dedicate 30 minutes each day for meditation
- Gradually expose yourself to situations that cause anxiety
- Rank your mood from 1-10 each day
- Record your thoughts in a journal every night
- Attend therapy sessions routinely
It’s easier to narrow down treatment objectives with a therapist than it is on your own. Mental health professionals are equipped with proven strategies for helping you accomplish your goals step-by-step.
Read our related article to discover what to expect from therapy.
How to Set Goals in Treatment
Before you set a goal in treatment, you first need to identify an issue that you’d like to improve. This can be a mental health concern, a relationship struggle, or a personal skill that you want to improve. After you’ve identified an area of concern, you can begin setting your treatment goal.
An effective strategy for setting goals is the SMART method. The SMART method helps you turn your aspirations into reality, and it can be broken down into five parts:
- Specific—set clear expectations on what you want to achieve
- Measurable—include milestones and metrics to keep track of your progress
- Achievable—ensure your goal is challenging, but not unrealistic or overly ambitious
- Relevant—your goal should align with what you hope to achieve
- Time-Bound—set a realistic timeline for accomplishing your goal
The SMART method ensures that your treatment goals are focused, motivating, and actionable. It’s important to break your main goal down into smaller goals that you can accomplish along the way. As you’re making progress towards your goal, be sure to celebrate milestones and small victories.
Benefits of Setting Goals in Treatment
In addition to providing you with a treatment roadmap, setting goals can provide you with several benefits that will help you along your mental health journey.
To start, treatment goals provide you with a sense of accomplishment. Accomplishments not only give you a boost to your mental health, but they also serve as a powerful motivator. When you make progress towards your goals, it inspires hope and motivates you to keep pushing forward.
Setting goals in treatment can also benefit other aspects of your life. Treatment and therapy provide a structured environment for you to practice setting and achieving goals. You can apply the same strategies for setting goals in treatment to your career, relationships, and physical health.
Read our related guide for a detailed look at the differences between individual therapy vs group therapy.
Sequoia Behavioral Health—Helping You Achieve Your Mental Health Goals
At Sequoia Behavioral Health, our mental health experts are dedicated to serving each client on an individual level. We combine compassionate care with proven strategies to help you achieve your treatment goals. Whether you’re struggling with mental health, substance abuse, or both, we can help you live life on your terms.
If you or a loved one needs help achieving mental wellness, reach out to our team of mental health professionals today.
