Agreement on Session Goals
What It Is
Explicitly negotiating with the client what you’ll work on in this particular session. Rather than assuming, the therapist asks: “What would be helpful to focus on today?” and collaboratively sets a clear, achievable goal for the hour.
Why It Matters
- Focuses the work: Session has direction rather than meandering
- Respects client autonomy: Therapy happens with the client, not to them
- Sets expectations: Client knows what to expect
- Builds alliance: Collaboration increases buy-in and trust
- Allows mid-course correction: If the session should shift, you can address it explicitly
How to Use It
1. At the Start of Session
“Last week we talked about your anxiety about presentations. What would be most helpful to focus on today?”
Or more open-ended:
“What’s been on your mind this week? What brought you in today?“
2. Listen and Clarify
The client may say: “I’m stressed about work” or “My partner is frustrating me.”
Ask:
- “Tell me more about what’s been happening”
- “What specifically would you like to address?”
- “Is there one situation you’d like to focus on, or multiple?“
3. Propose and Negotiate
“So it sounds like the main thing is the tension with your partner. We could:
- Work on the specific argument you had on Tuesday
- Look at the underlying belief patterns in your relationship
- Practice how to communicate differently
What feels most useful right now?“
4. Set a Specific Goal
Make it concrete:
-
✓ “Let’s identify what you were believing when your boss criticised you”
-
✗ “Let’s talk about work stress”
-
✓ “By the end of today, you’ll have a new way of thinking about this situation”
-
✗ “We’ll work on your anxiety”
5. Revisit Midway if Needed
“We said we’d focus on the presentation. Is that still what you want to work on, or has something else become more important?”
The Goal-Setting Conversation
Therapist: “What would be most helpful to focus on in our time today?”
Client: “I’m just really stressed about everything.”
Therapist: “I hear you. That sounds overwhelming. Of all the things stressing you, is there one thing that’s bothering you the most right now?”
Client: “Yeah, my manager’s feedback really got to me.”
Therapist: “Okay. So if we spent our time understanding what you were telling yourself about that feedback, and came up with a different way to think about it, would that help?”
Client: “Yeah, that would be good.”
Therapist: “Great. Let’s focus on that. Walk me through what happened.”
Benefits of Clear Goals
| Benefit | Example |
|---|---|
| Focus | Session stays on track instead of jumping between topics |
| Efficiency | You know what to aim for; you can use time strategically |
| Client autonomy | Client feels heard and respected |
| Measurable progress | ”We came in wanting to understand your belief about the feedback, and we did that” |
| Motivation | Achievable goals build confidence and momentum |
Common Pitfalls
| Pitfall | Solution |
|---|---|
| No goal-setting (“Just tell me what’s on your mind”) | Structure: explicitly ask and agree on a focus |
| Imposing your agenda | Ask first; the client’s priority usually comes first |
| Goal too vague | Refine: “What specifically about that?” |
| Too many goals | ”Those are important. Could we focus on one today and touch base on the others next week?” |
| Ignoring urgent crises | If something critical has happened, that’s the goal for today |
Integration With REBT Work
Once a goal is set, you move into the ABC work:
- A: The situation from the goal
- B: The client’s beliefs about it
- C: The emotional/behavioral consequences
- Proceed to assessment, disputation, and construction of rational beliefs
Revisiting Goals
It’s okay to adjust:
- “As we started talking about this, it seems like the deeper issue is X. Would you like to shift our focus there?”
- “We’ve made good progress on this. Do you want to keep going, or move to something else?”
Practice Criteria
You know you’ve set a good goal when:
- The client can state back what you’re working on
- The goal is specific enough to evaluate (“Did we address this?“)
- Both therapist and client feel engaged and clear
- The goal aligns with the client’s stated needs
Sources
A technique from REBT.