2026 Treatment plan examples for therapists

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (F41.1), moderate severity. Baseline GAD-7: 16. PHQ-9: 6 (subthreshold).

1) Reduce the frequency and intensity of excessive worry to functional baseline. 2) Restore restful sleep. 3) Reduce avoidance behavior around work performance and relational concerns.

1a) GAD-7 ≤10 by week 12. 1b) Sleep onset latency ≤30 minutes by week 8 (self-report log). 2a) Daily thought record completed 5/7 days by week 4. 3a) Patient names and confronts one avoidance behavior per week, beginning week 6.

Cognitive restructuring (3-column thought record, evidence-for/evidence-against), behavioral experiments targeting catastrophic predictions, scheduled worry time, sleep hygiene, progressive muscle relaxation.

Weekly 50-minute individual sessions for an estimated 12-16 weeks. Re-evaluate at week 12 (next treatment plan update). Taper to biweekly if GAD-7 ≤10 sustained for 4 consecutive sessions.

Prescriber: [Provider]. Will coordinate at week 6 if symptoms have not begun improving — SSRI consideration. No school/employer coordination needed at this time. Next session [Date].

Borderline Personality Disorder (F60.3). Persistent Depressive Disorder (F34.1). PHQ-9: 9 (last 90 days: 12). Two NSSI episodes in prior 12 months — zero in past 90 days. Two prior psychiatric ER visits — none in past 90 days.

1) Eliminate target behaviors (NSSI, suicidal urges acted upon). 2) Build the four DBT skills (mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness). 3) Reduce frequency and intensity of emotional crises.

1a) Zero NSSI in next 90 days (currently met — extend). 2a) Complete distress tolerance module by day 60 of this plan (currently on session 4 of 8). 2b) Complete emotion regulation module by day 90. 3a) Use TIP skill ≥3 times per week when distress >7/10 (diary card).

Standard outpatient DBT: weekly individual + weekly skills group. Chain analysis on target behaviors. Phone coaching for skills generalization. Diary card review each session.

Weekly individual + weekly skills group. Plan length: ongoing, with treatment plan review every 90 days. Estimated duration: 12-18 months for the standard DBT curriculum.

Prescriber: [Provider] (sertraline 100mg, stable). Skills group leader will provide attendance and engagement notes monthly. Patient's sister is identified contact for the safety plan. Next session [Date].

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, acute (F43.11), following motor vehicle accident at [Location]. PCL-5: 48 (above provisional threshold).

1) Achieve adaptive resolution of the index trauma memory (full reprocessing). 2) Eliminate avoidance of driving and the accident location. 3) Restore baseline sleep and reduce hypervigilance.

1a) Complete EMDR phases 1-2 (history + preparation) by session 3. 1b) Begin phase 4 reprocessing by session 4. 1c) Achieve SUDS ≤2 and VOC ≥6 on the index target by session 10. 2a) Drive past the accident location with the therapist via in-vivo exposure by week 12. 3a) PCL-5 ≤20 by week 12.

8-phase EMDR protocol. Resourcing: safe place, container, calm-place body cue. Bilateral stimulation via tactile tappers. Cognitive interweaves as needed. Between-session self-soothing protocol.

Weekly 60-minute sessions (longer than standard to accommodate the reprocessing protocol). Estimated 10-15 sessions for single-incident resolution. Next review at session 12.

PCP: aware of treatment, will be informed if sleep medication is considered. No prescriber involvement currently. Next session [Date].

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, chronic, complex (F43.12). Persistent Depressive Disorder (F34.1). Significant progress in past 6 months: one complete exile unburdening, identification of three protector parts, sustained Self-energy access reported.

1) Continue building Self-leadership across all parts. 2) Identify and unburden additional exiles in a paced manner. 3) Reduce the harshness of the inner-critic manager.

1a) Patient reports sustained Self-energy access ≥7/10 in 4 of 5 weekly check-ins by month 9 of treatment. 2a) Map and build relationships with the two remaining identified exiles by month 9. 2b) Pursue unburdening of the 'small one' exile by month 12, if and only if internal consensus is achieved. 3a) Inner-critic manager check-ins show softening — patient subjectively rates manager intensity ≤4/10 by month 9 (baseline was 9).

IFS therapy: direct access and in-sight access as appropriate. Parts mapping. Negotiation with protectors. Unburdening only with full internal permission. Self-energy practice between sessions.

Weekly 50-minute sessions for the next 3 months, then re-evaluate cadence (potential biweekly transition). Estimated remaining duration: 6-12 months.

No prescriber or other providers currently involved. Patient maintains a close friend as informal support. Next session [Date].