How to Set Measurable Goals in Counseling

Good counselors need to help clients move from their present level of distress to a healthier state of being. Particularly important is assisting the client set clear objectives. To be most effective, these goals must be "stated in behaviorally measurable language," says Arthur Jongsma, a psychologist and author. "It must be clear when the client has achieved the established objectives; therefore, vague, subjective objectives are not acceptable." Fortunately, wording these goals is relatively simple.

Instructions

• 1

  Identify the problem. You can't create goals to fix what you don't know. Listening to your client and processing the information he vocalizes will help you understand what is bothering him. Your goal is to help the client articulate what is causing his distress.

• 2

  Develop broad goals with the client. These present a long-term vision for where he indicates he wants to go in his mental-health treatment. The goals indicate the outcome desired, not the steps to be taken to get there.

• 3

  Break those broad goals down into smaller, measurable ones. Each should tie back to the long-range vision. State them in concretely achievable language or steps that can be quantified. For instance, "feel better soon" is not a measurable goal, as feeling better can mean any number of things and "soon" is also vague. Instead, use, "verbalize the source of my anger in three weeks." This is a clear and concrete goal that can be measured.

• 4

  Double-check your treatment plan to make sure that all of the objectives it contains are stated in measurable language.