I am into my second appointment tomorrow with my new counsellor. The diagnoses received inthe past ahve been social anxiety, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Depression, and Avoidant Personality Disorder (Avpd). The AvPD has been the most prominent one and the depression.

In the past session and its previous pre-assessment, I was asked to set some goals for my counselling. It ahs seemed very difficult to do so...other than the obvious final goal of conquering the anxiety lol.

Well, today, I hope I have set some realistic goals for my counsellor. The goals are as follows:

1) Identify my skills, and seek volunteering in job I enjoy more

· Recall skills tests in HR Mgmt course
· INFP/J personality type

· Presently known skills – customer service, articulate, baking/cooking, generalist – know a little about many things
· Trying to improve reading skills and attention span by how much I can read before attention goes elsewhere

2) Conquer the fear of rejection so I can move ahead instead of feeling immobile

3) Discover who I am and allow myself to feel

4) Better control my physical health through skill development such as deep breathing, yoga, and respectful eating habits

· Begun breathing exercises
· Seen new doctor and added Klonopin on Tuesday, December 14
· Giving up or reducing caffeine intake...recognized harmful effects on anxiety control
· Get outside more often....leave the home when I can

Those topics that are in point form, show what I have already begun to do or already know. I am trying to exercise, eat beteer for my anxiety...like no caffeine, and past tests I had done for my skills assessments.

I ask for guidance in this goal setting. I am new to it and do not know if they are the kinds of goals a counsellor needs to hear. Am I being too general or too specific? Do I appear on the right track? Please help me. I would value your input. Thank you

[granite1]

these goals sound great

[sittingatwatersedge]

I am always at a loss for goals, never having learned to set them.

These sound great; that #3 may take some time but is going to be WORTH IT.

best of luck to you!!!!

Thank you both It helps alot

[PTSDlovemycats]

Best of luck to you with this.

[Gus1234U]

i use the Alternative Goal Setting Method,,,, follow my nose, listen for the little voice, and take the easy way,,, , but good luck with your Plan~!! break it down,, step at a time~~ best wishes,, Gus

[jexa]

Awesome goals!! I think any therapist would be happy to get these goals and help you move in this direction. You can do it!

I appreciate the encouragement and advice. I will tell more tomorrow after session. Good night for now.

[jollybutdepressed]

good luck with your plan, Ingrid! It's good to have a plan.. I do make plans but ends up not being followed cause for something or another, I am being pulled back.... but good luck with you.. and hope these goals are reached ! love yah

[WePow]

Your goals look like you have put a lot of work into them!
The next step will be to make a plan on things to do to reach these goals.
Goals are like the pictures of that awesome vacation getaway. It is very important to know what you want the final destination to be.

But the next step is to figure out how you are going to get to that little spot on the beach where you can sit back and watch the dolphins swim about.

So now it is time to focus on what you need to do to reach your goals. The advice my first T gave me was to work backward. For example: I will need a Hotel room and plane fair. The next back step would be: I need to get a travel visa and save the money to pay for the trip. Then you would say: I can start saving money by cooking at home on Friday night rather than going out to eat. That lays a pathway for you to be able to reach those long term goals.

Finally, it may help to use worksheets just to solidify your ideas:
http://www.cignabehavioral.com/web/b...g_person11.pdf

http://www.getselfhelp.co.uk/freedownloads2.htm -- my favorite therapy worksheet site! -- has this worksheet just for goals: http://www.getselfhelp.co.uk/docs/SMARTgoals.pdf

Well..my counsellor told me to keep a journal of moments, the feelins they bring on, and what actions or decision I make based on those emotions.

The second task she has asked of me is to collect pictures that are appealing to me...to help me determine a goal to work toward in life. Sounds like fun. Scrapbooking 101 lol.