Comments on: Your Mental Health "To-Do" List http://blogs.psychcentral.com/therapy-soup/2010/02/your-mental-health-to-dolist/ Everything you wanted to know about psychotherapy but were afraid to ask. Sun, 12 Feb 2012 22:10:59 +0000 hourly 1 By: The Problem With To-Do Lists http://blogs.psychcentral.com/therapy-soup/2010/02/your-mental-health-to-dolist/comment-page-1/#comment-57 The Problem With To-Do Lists Wed, 17 Feb 2010 23:16:00 +0000 http://blogs.psychcentral.com/therapy-soup/?p=166#comment-57 [...] related to self improvement. You'll find more at http://www.selfimprovementnow.comRelated blog postsYour Mental Health ?To-Do? List | Therapy SoupThe Winkler County nurse case and the problem of physician ...2 Common Problems with Graphic Design [...] [...] related to self improvement. You'll find more at http://www.selfimprovementnow.comRelated blog postsYour Mental Health ?To-Do? List | Therapy SoupThe Winkler County nurse case and the problem of physician …2 Common Problems with Graphic Design [...]

]]> By: Richard Zwolinski http://blogs.psychcentral.com/therapy-soup/2010/02/your-mental-health-to-dolist/comment-page-1/#comment-56 Richard Zwolinski Wed, 17 Feb 2010 05:45:17 +0000 http://blogs.psychcentral.com/therapy-soup/?p=166#comment-56 Thanks for your comments--they are much appreciated.In fact, they really help us focus on what we should be writing about. In answer to your first question, I can say that the therapists who work in clinics are still using the treatment plan format that I and/or other administrators put in place (it is important to remember that there are many different variations of the treatment plan--my particular format works for me but many other formats are equally effective). However, unlike with patients, unless therapists in private practice contact me, I have no way of knowing if they are still following through on using the treatment plan. We are in the initial stages of developing a training program that addresses some of these issues. What initially inspired me to write my book was hearing from patients and their families that they weren't being given treatment plans. We will attempt to answer your questions when we get to the next post, Target Dates for Check Ins. But I do want to assure you that if a therapist believes he or she does not have the resources or training to adequately help a patient and refers that patient to a professional or program who can do a better job, if the reasons are articulated clearly and are done with sensitivity my opinion is that the patient will be appreciative. It must be stressed that this is not a rejection of the patient. Thanks for your comments–they are much appreciated.In fact, they really help us focus on what we should be writing about.
In answer to your first question, I can say that the therapists who work in clinics are still using the treatment plan format that I and/or other administrators put in place (it is important to remember that there are many different variations of the treatment plan–my particular format works for me but many other formats are equally effective). However, unlike with patients, unless therapists in private practice contact me, I have no way of knowing if they are still following through on using the treatment plan.
We are in the initial stages of developing a training program that addresses some of these issues.
What initially inspired me to write my book was hearing from patients and their families that they weren’t being given treatment plans.
We will attempt to answer your questions when we get to the next post, Target Dates for Check Ins. But I do want to assure you that if a therapist believes he or she does not have the resources or training to adequately help a patient and refers that patient to a professional or program who can do a better job, if the reasons are articulated clearly and are done with sensitivity my opinion is that the patient will be appreciative. It must be stressed that this is not a rejection of the patient.

]]> By: TPG http://blogs.psychcentral.com/therapy-soup/2010/02/your-mental-health-to-dolist/comment-page-1/#comment-55 TPG Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:45:17 +0000 http://blogs.psychcentral.com/therapy-soup/?p=166#comment-55 This continues to be one of the most informative nuts-and-blogs blogs on Psychcentral. What percentage of therapists whom you've trained actually do treatment plans this detailed, after they've been in practice for a while? When you get to the section on Check-ins and assessments, can you please talk about benchmarks for measuring progress? Also, what happens if these benchmarks are not reached? At what point does the therapist say, "I wonder if I'm the best person for you. Maybe you should see XXX." And make the referral. How devastating is that to most clients? This continues to be one of the most informative nuts-and-blogs blogs on Psychcentral. What percentage of therapists whom you’ve trained actually do treatment plans this detailed, after they’ve been in practice for a while?

When you get to the section on Check-ins and assessments, can you please talk about benchmarks for measuring progress? Also, what happens if these benchmarks are not reached? At what point does the therapist say, “I wonder if I’m the best person for you. Maybe you should see XXX.” And make the referral. How devastating is that to most clients?

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