[haier]

I need to go over my goals in therapy next week. I only have 2. My T makes me decide what my goals will be, i have A LOT of problems.

I guess my question...if you don't mind me asking, i'm sorry if it feels intrusive...just need some ideas on what kind of goals to create. What goals do you have in therapy?

I know everybody's different i just need some ideas since mine are pretty superficial. I had increase self esteem and manage anxiety. I ask her but she makes me think about it...i tried to say keep it the same but she wants me to add to that. I don't know....it's hard to know what to work on since those two basically cover everything. I've been through a lot in my life and honestly can't think of anything that i add. Sorry if i sound dumb....i truly am confused....????

How about going a bit more specific? Instead of the broad self-esteem goal, how about something like learning to recognize and give yourself credit where credit is due, or maybe becoming involved in one activity that will be self-affirming. (For me that might have been starting an affirmations journal or going back to church choir.). Instead of managing anxiety, how about learning three specific techniques for calming your mind. (That might be yoga or mindfulness or breathing techniques, etc.). If you can make your goals more concrete, they might seem more achievable.

[almostthere]

Your T can make suggestions to help make u feel better about yourself but the ultimate beneficiary in your recovery is YOU!

Try to find an activity that brings u pleasure and happiness.... Unfortunately I can't tell u what may work for u because each and everyone of us are different.
But I think u need to identify what makes your soul light up with fire and pursue that wish, or dream, as far as it will take u. Never let anyone, including your T to tell u what may, or may not work for u. Just listen to her advise, and take the little pieces of the puzzle and when it's completed stand back and obsereve it. U will find a beatiful picture of what your life may become.

I hope these words of encouragement are of some help to u.

I wish u all the best.

[pbutton]

I struggle with this too. I think the idea of coming up with specific goals is a good idea. Not really sure how to do that though.

Therapists seem to be a bit different in how much they ask or help their clients to formulate specific goals. My T doesn't do it at all - though he might do it if I asked him, I suppose. Maybe he does it with other clients, though. From time to time T and I discuss what has changed for me and in me since I started coming to therapy, which is helpful. The main goal from the start for me was really to get me to talk at all, and feel able to phrase my thoughts without fear. I'm more or less there now, after about ten months, but it's become more complicated by him insisting that I also talk about feelings, which is even more difficult than talking about thoughts.

One thing that has been really important to me is my T telling me that every victory, every change, is 100% in itself. So if you have a "small" goal, the change may feel small, but it is still a change and a met goal.

I don't know if this rambling is helpful at all...

[Perna]

I would hit the library or bookstore and find something specific about self esteem and anxiety that I could work with. Or here's a booklet that might have ideas you could use:

http://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content...5/SMA-3715.pdf

Or, here's an anxiety log you could start and share with your T: http://www.drnataliemasson.com/image...ring%20log.pdf

Find something you would like to explore and share it with your T and see how T can help?

[mylifeart]

I have the same problem its hard for me to set goals.. and I do not understand what kind of goals to set for therapy .

[unaluna]

Mine was just to be "more hankster". T looked somewhat appalled when I first said that ten years ago, but now that it's starting to happen, he can see what I meant and agrees it was a good goal. Basically i need to stop self sabotaging. Start forming some good habits.

[mixedup_emotions]

My T was talking about some goals for me....In group T, they would be: not sitting silently in discomfort, addressing things earlier, negotiating to get my needs met, expressing what comes to me without holding back so we can figure out what it means and staying present.

And in individual T, my goal at the moment is to be able to talk about past trauma...and to stay grounded while talking about it.

[WikidPissah]

My goals were:
To communicate effectively
To be in public without having an anxiety attack
To organize my day so that depression would not linger.

I never met them, but I did improve.

[haier]

Thank you for the feedback. Made an interesting read. I don't know what my goals will be...kind of intimidating for me.