[firecracker09]

As the New Year is approaching, I was thinking about changes/goals for both life and therapy. I often think too broadly and am struggling to come up with more precise goals.

For those of you who have specific therapy goals, would you mind sharing what they are? Also, who came up with it? (you, therapist, both)

Thanks and happy holidays everyone!

I prefer to use therapy in a goal-directed way rather than diffusely. My two main goals with my last therapist (in this past year) were restoring my long-term sobriety after a relapse with an addiction (and work on general obsessional tendencies), plus to address work-related anxiety. I feel that I've arrived at a satisfying state with these so I ended regular therapy a bit over a month ago but we have an arrangement with the T that I can return anytime if needed. What I plan now is to have occasional sessions with the T to discuss specific things when I feel I can use his input and support. All these are my choices.

I always felt that my therapists encouraged broadening the "playground" of therapy and wanted to drift (well, I also have that tendency when I enjoy the conversations), sometimes into areas that I felt they had an interest in and I had no problems with that I wanted to address with them. I am interested in hearing these but like to determine what and how much effort I am willing to put into something.

[stopdog]

I would not say I have specific goals. I use therapy to say things to the therapist that I cannot/should not say to people that are real.

I've been thinking that I should return to work in 2017 in the New Year. I am hoping to turn an occasional volunteer position into some paid work.

I posted this elsewhere but it applies here too.

Make sure that the goals you set are realistic, attainable, and measurable. If you can, break them down into smaller incremental goals. Don't forget to reward yourself as you meet/complete each step along the way.

[Journey-Man]

Here is my approach to goals.

1) Aim for no more than three at a time.
2) Share your goals with as few people as possible (this is scientifically proven to help)
3) Don't try to commit to goals for long periods of time, fixate on a management amount of time. (i.e. 2 weeks, 1 month, etc.)
4) Make sure your goals are realistic, and if you have anxiety problems then aim for smaller goals which are priorities.
5) Be compassionate to yourself, accept that you will fail and don't be afraid to try again.

Currently my goals are:
1) Meditate for 10+ Minutes Each Day
2) Exercise for 30 minutes Four Days a week.
3) Journal Every Night.

The trick is to build habits and then focus on new goals.

[InnerPeace111]

My goal is to practice self-care each day. I set this goal for myself.