When people hope to make progress in any area of their lives, it helps to set goals. Otherwise, individuals can spend years at something and never feel like they’ve gone anywhere. This is true of exercise, nutrition, or career progress. The same holds true when it comes to therapy. Setting goals in therapy is the key to making progress. Knowing why you’ve come to therapy, as well as what you hope to achieve, is paramount to success.
At Columbia Associates, we prioritize goal-oriented therapy sessions tailored to meet each client’s unique needs. Our comprehensive mental health therapy services are designed to provide a personalized experience, ensuring clients receive the support they need to meet their therapy objectives. If you’d like more information about our mental health services, call 703.682.8208.
Why Is Setting Goals Important in Therapy?
Setting goals in therapy provides direction and focus. When individuals are struggling with personal issues, it can be overwhelming and difficult to know where to start or what steps to take toward improvement. By setting clear goals, therapists and clients can work together to develop a plan and make progress toward achieving those goals. Here are a few of the ways goal setting helps within a therapy context:
- Empowerment and control – Through goal setting, individuals feel more agency over their own therapeutic journey and the development of their ability to cope or heal from a specific situation.
- Motivation and accountability – When individuals have specific objectives they want to achieve, it can be a source of motivation to continue working towards them.
- Track progress – Therapists can more easily point out successes and well as hold clients accountable for the steps they agreed upon during therapy sessions.
After you first begin therapy sessions, keeping your goals in mind will help you note things that may happen in between sessions that you’d like to talk about at your next session. It will also help you understand what to expect in therapy sessions as you move forward.
What to Expect in Therapy
When setting goals in therapy, you can expect collaborative communication with your therapist. They will ask questions about what you hope to achieve through therapy and will work with you to set realistic, achievable goals. They can offer support and encouragement along the way and reassure you when goals shift or change throughout the process. It’s important to remain open and honest with your therapist about any new developments in your life or challenges you’re facing so that they can give you the appropriate guidance and continue helping you work toward your goals effectively.
What Kinds of Goals Should I Have for Therapy?
No matter the reason, setting goals from the beginning of your therapy journey is important. Here are some examples of possible goals:
- Reduction of panic attacks
- Developing coping strategies for anxiety
- Enhance communication skills
- Learning conflict resolution skills specific to a recurring conflict with a partner or friend
- Coping with depression
- Building self-esteem
- Managing stress
- Overcoming trauma
- Finding emotional regulation
- Substance use recovery
- Asserting healthy boundaries
It’s important to note that this list is not exhaustive. Goals will vary based on your individual reason for enrolling in therapy.
Contact Columbia Associates Today to Begin Therapy
Setting goals in therapy is a crucial aspect of making progress and achieving personal growth. With clear objectives and collaborative communication with your therapist, feeling in control of your mental health journey is attainable. You’ll begin to see tangible results that you can be proud of.
At Columbia Associates, we are committed to your progress. If you’re ready to take the next step in your mental health journey, click here to reach out to our team of empathetic mental health care experts. For existing clients, please click here and find your office location to contact your office directly.