Treatment plan for depression

Question 1

What are the categories in the table?

Answer 1

1. Problem list
2. Goal List
3. Target Treatment
4. Therapy Stage
5. Clinical challenges

Question 2

What problems would we use in the depression treatment plan?

Answer 2

Unhelpful behaviours, withdrawal/avoidance, ruminating/self-attacking, Negative automatic thoughts

Question 3

What would be some short-term goals?

Answer 3

1. Identifying and challenging self-critical and automatic negative thoughts.
2. Begin re-engaging in small, meaningful activities.
3. Reduce time spent ruminating.

Question 4

What would be some long-term goals?

Answer 4

1. Improve mood and self-compassion.
2. Rebuild motivation and functioning
3. Increase social interaction and self-care.

Question 5

What target treatments would you use?

Answer 5

1. Behavioural activation (graded activity scheduling) = withdrawal/avoidance and unhelpful behaviours like self-neglect.
2. ABC thought record and socratic questioning = automatic negative thoughts and ruminating.
3. Self-compassion exercises (e.g., imagery, letter writing)= ruminating/self-attacking.
4. Psychoeducation about the ruminating trap and cognitive distortions = build understanding around how thoughts, rumination, and behaviours interlink, giving clients clarity and choice.

Question 6

What therapy stages would you plan?

Answer 6

1. Session 1-3: Engagement, psychoeducation, activity monitoring.
2. Session 4-6: Behavioural activation + thought records.
3. Session 7-10: challenging core beliefs, relapse prevention.
   - Homework throughout.

Question 7

What clincial challenges might you come across?

Answer 7

1. Resistance to behavioural activation due to low motivation.
2. Difficulty recognising self-critical thoughts as problematic.
3. Clients may feel overwhelmed or hopeless.
4. Risk of reinforcing avoidance if goals are not manageable.
5. Shame may block engagement in self-compassion work.