Research found that people who pursue personal goals generally have a higher subjective well-being than people who have no sense of direction in their lives1. In addition, the person working towards the goal needs to agree and own the goals2. Goal progress need to be tracked and reviewed especially if there is a lack of progress.
While working on future planning and setting goals, the work can be divided up into three domains; goals, tasks and methods. The focus of the framework in determining goals is on the client’s wants. Goals can be high level or more specific goals, and they might change over the course of the therapy. The emphasis is on helping clients clarify and explore their goals. The aim is to have an on-going goal focused conversation with the clients. The skills involve being able to set up a task by agreeing on the task, then carrying out the task and knowing when the task is successfully completed.
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Counselling and psychotherapy can help!
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References:
1: Freund, A. M., & Baltes, P. B. (2002). Life-management strategies of selection, optimization and compensation: Measurement by self-report and construct validity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Vol. 82, 642–662.
2: Law, D. & Jacob, J. (2015). Goals and goal based outcomes (GBO). (3rd Ed). London: CAMHS Press.