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Session 4 - Goal Setting

Brief Couples Therapy: Group and Individual Couple Treatment for Addiction and Related Mental Health Concerns

For this session:

Session Guidelines

Objectives

Each partner will:

  • select one personal goal and one couple goal
  • identify the steps needed to achieve his or her goals

Couples will have begun the process of engaging in the negotiation of their goals with each other.

Group cohesion and commitment will continue to develop.

Checklist

Guidelines for the counsellor with tips on what to do with or say to the client.

  1. Check-in

    Ask about issues arising from the last session.

    “Name a thought, word or feeling that describes how you are right now.”

  2.  Stating the Format and Purpose of This Session

    “In today’s session, we are going to be working on personal and couple goals. As facilitators, we will give you some feedback as you discuss your goals, and it may also be helpful for group members to give each other feedback on goals and on goal setting as we go along.”

  3. Reviewing Goal Assignment 1 Homework

    Ask each member to share his or her goals with the group. Have him or her scale the goals (1-10) in terms of how close each goal is to being achieved. Also, note where there are common goals among group members. Some time for discussion and group feedback may be required when a couple’s goals conflict.

    Ask couples to choose a goal to work on together.

    Encourage them to choose a goal that is clear, concrete and attainable, and point out that goal achievement is a step-by-step process. Ask couples to identify some of the steps that will be required to achieve their goals. Feedback from other group members may help couples establish these steps.

  4. Homework (Goal Assignment 2)

    Couples are instructed to complete the Goal Assignment 2 sheet for discussion in the next session. “Next week, we will review your progress and we will do an exercise designed to help you work on your goals with your partner.”

    (Therapists keep notes of each client’s goals to be reviewed in Session 7.)

  5. Check-out

    Ask each group member to state one positive word that he or she is thinking or a feeling that he or she is experiencing.

Session Resources

Materials
  • pens
  • homework sheets: Goal Assignment 2
Summary
  1. Check-in
    • Name a thought/word/feeling and/or discuss issues arising from the last session.
  2. Stating the Format and Purpose of This Session
  3. Reviewing Goal Assignment 1 Homework
    • Each group member shares personal goals and couple goals.
    • Have each client prioritize goals and choose one attainable goal.
    • Help couples work out the steps needed to attain goals.
  4. Homework (Goal Assignment 2)
    • Hand out Goal Assignment 2 sheet. Instruct couples to complete it for next session.
  5. Check-out
Tips for Individual Couple Session 4
  • Use extra time to clarify goals, both personal and couple, that are small, concrete, attainable and specific.
  • Stress that goals should be about themselves and should not involve changing the other partner.
  • Encourage clients to frame their goals in a positive, action-oriented way (i.e., “our goal is to talk twice a week” versus “our goal is to argue less”).

Brief Couples Therapy

Acknowledgments

Introduction

References

Appendix A: The Background of the Integrative Model
Brief Couples Therapy cover

Related Links