Treatment Plans

Creating a treatment plan for every client accepted for psychotherapy is often seen as a necessary evil, but it is actually a beneficial exercise for the client, the counselor, other members of the treatment team, the agency, third-party payers, and the psychology profession. Bruce E. Wampold and Zac E. Imel have highlighted creating and communicating a treatment plan among the 14 theory- and research-supported qualities and actions of an effective therapist. Therapist factors combine with client factors, intervention techniques, and relationship factors to positively influence the outcome of psychotherapy. A treatment plan is a dynamic document that is subject to modification because it guides the treatment process from start to finish. The plan is built on the foundation of a thorough assessment of the client’s ...