How to write a SMART goal (for mental health)

Writing SMART goals for mental health treatment plans is easy when you have a simple formula. Dr. Maelisa McCaffrey of QA Prep offers tips for writing SMART goals easily and quickly. She also reviews some common mistakes to avoid writing goals for counseling or psychotherapy.
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00:00 Introduction
00:24 What is a SMART goal
00:49 Do I need to use SMART goals
02:01 Specific
03:50 Measurable
04:25 How to create measurements
06:19 Mistakes to avoid
07:05 Attainable and Realistic
07:38 Timebound
08:00 When to review goals
08:52 More examples

[@navikabansal9454]

My teachers couldn't explain this in 2 years
Thank you for this

[@MaelisaMcCaffrey]

@@navikabansal9454 it’s surprisingly difficult to make things simple sometimes 😊

[@JeanEMacK]

I usually just use a measure, such as the Beck Depression Inventory, to measure progress towards the goal.

[@MaelisaMcCaffrey]

That works well, too!

[@joellenlange7083]

Thank you so much, Dr. Maelisa! This series has been very helpful! Thank you for removing the (unnecessary!) 'mystery' from this process!

[@MaelisaMcCaffrey]

So glad you found it helpful!

[@kimbecker4880]

Thanks, Maelisa! You have been SO helpful to me SO many times in the past few years!

[@MaelisaMcCaffrey]

Happy to help!!!!!

[@jayd3337]

Talk to come here because I was thinking about a Smart chart earlier I was doing concerning my attention disorder and my communication disorder.
Despite these disorders I have a lot of ambition I need to make happen. I am putting procrastination on there because it is the mother of all evils when it comes to ADHD. I am 40, single with no kids, so personal fulfillment going to be my goal

[@bethjassin3999]

Thank you so much for this information on treatment plan documentation. This was extremely clear and helpful. I appreciate the ease in which you present this without instilling fear. Ahhhh…I’m feeling better about how I have been documenting:)

[@kimbecker4880]

Precisely! She is so great at helping you relax while getting it right. :)

[@MaelisaMcCaffrey]

Thank you for saying that! There's no reason to be fearful about documentation, even though that's the dominant message we get. Trying to change that!!

[@staciamj1]

Good stuff. Thanks

[@Jwcounseling]

Where I work we have to have smart goals and then objectives for each smart goal and it gets so confusing

[@MaelisaMcCaffrey]

It’s so ridiculous and unnecessary to me. Sorry you have so much extra work!

[@user-jj8gc4jt4z]

Hi Dr. Melissa is the measurements section, is it possible to use PQ9 results as a symptoms measure? Maybe write from nearly every day to more than half the days? Or a similar version? Thanks so much!

[@MaelisaMcCaffrey]

You could use the PHQ-9, but personally, I like something a little more broad that can apply even when symptoms become lighter.

[@harveyandveta]

I have to respond to insurance request for records. Regarding progress notes do i need to cite goals for each progress note. if so How do I do it when you sated not to write anything nore than once. i would appreciate your answer.
Mari

[@MaelisaMcCaffrey]

It honestly depends on the insurance company. For Medicare and Medicaid, always yes. Unfortunately, that means a simple but annoying copy and paste to every note each week.

[@srikothur2845]

Thanks for teaching me something that my useless supervisor (who is not a therapist or a human with 10% of my education) has been able to explain.

[@lgamble]

Can you give examples of attainable and realistic?

[@MaelisaMcCaffrey]

That just depends on your client and knowledge. For example, if someone has MDD Severe, most of us would say it's unrealistic to expect the client will have zero symptoms after a few months. But for a mild depression, they may see more improvement.

[@silasrichardson2045]

it was very helpful until you got to "attainable and realistic"-I have no clue with what you said to put in those two areas.

[@MaelisaMcCaffrey]

Essentially, is this something that is realistic to achieve within the timeframe of the treatment plan?

[@Potencyfunction]

@@MaelisaMcCaffrey The environment factors plays an important role with the timeframe. If you stay in a wrong place, then the health can be affected for instance by the persons from specific place. The effectivness is when you understood, that some "specific" persons are not good for your psychological health and therefore, choose to remove them from your personal circle. Also the place aka such working or online environment. The def of effectivity is to prioritize your work and make the right thing at the right time. Not delayed, not hunging around to cherish chat after you are rejected. Clear message is when you tell them clear what is it you want to archive. When you tell them that they are not wanted in your business relation. Than they can orient them self towards another team, at their level and grade of pleasure for formation of dynamic teams. Do you want to work with handicaps that are not able to write ? Particulary, I do not. But if you are a therapist , yes you have to make therapy for handicaps unless you do not have your own life and family to maintain. What you do in others life, whitout a precise goal and message ? What you do in the wrong place, hanging for years when you are not wanted ? If you are mental retard why not to go at the hospital and stay there for free instead to disturb other ppl lifes.