Certain elements of treatment planning for clients experiencing life transition and developmental issues may be easier than others. For instance, it may be obvious that a breadwinner’s job loss is the major concern facing a family. The more difficult part may be crafting clinical and treatment formulations for this issue that explain how it affects the clients, what needs they have, and how you, as a helping professional, plan to intervene (Sperry, 2005). As you examine life transition and developmental issues in this week and the next, use your theoretical orientation to conceptualize the scenarios presented and plan theory-based interventions.
For this Discussion, consider a brief case history of a couple or family (this can be one with which you are familiar or a fictional couple). Begin to conceptualize the couple’s or family’s problem through your theoretical orientation and identify interventions that you might use. Search the Walden Library for articles that might be used to justify the interventions you selected.

By Day 5

Post a brief description of the couple or family case. Explain the theories and theory-based interventions to couples and families experiencing life transition and developmental issues you will apply to this case. Then,

• Develop and justify treatment plans for the fictional couple or family experiencing life transition and developmental issues.
• Conceptualize the couple’s or family’s problem through your chosen theoretical orientation.
• Design a treatment plan including short- and long-term goals

Required Readings

Gurman, A. S., Lebow, J. L., Snyder, D. K. (2015). Clinical handbook of couple therapy. New York, NY: The Guilford Press.
Chapter 17, “Therapy with Couples in Step Families”
Chapter 18, “Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Issues in Couple Therapy”
Chapter 19, “Couple Therapy and Intercultural Relationship”

Hartwell, E. E., Serovich, J. M., Reed, S. J., Boisvert, D., & Falbo, T. (2017). A systematic review of Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual research samples in couple and family therapy journals. Journal Of Marital and Family Therapy, 43(3), 482-501.

Williams, M. (2012). Couples counseling: A step by step guide for therapists. Boston, MA: Viale Publishing.
Chapter 5, “4th Session: Couple’s Dialogue” (pp. 85–99)
Chapter 6, “5th Session: Problem Solving & Compromise” (pp. 101–126)
Chapter 9, “8th Session: Taking Responsibility” (pp. 177–190)

Treatment Plan Template

1. Instructions and Template for Treatment Plan

Use the following treatment plan template for the treatment plans you design for the Discussions and Assignments in this course.
Identified strengths: Includes strengths that will help client achieve long-term goal(s) (e.g., supportive family). Client should help identify.  Initially, it may be difficult to help client identify more than one or two strengths, but as the course of treatment continues, more should become evident.
Identified problems/deficits: Includes factors in client’s life that may impede successful recovery.
Long-Term Goal(s):
Short-Term Goals
Objectives
Strategies 
Expected Outcome 
(With Time Frame)
Stated as broad desirable outcome that will be broken down into short-term goals and objectives; usually, one long-term goal will be adequate for first year.
Series of time-limited goals that will lead to achievement of long-term goal
Statements of what client will do to achieve short-term goal. Stated in measurable, behavioral terms
How objective will be carried out or accomplished
Objective, measurable desirable outcome with timeframe
Long-Term Goal(s):
Short-Term Goals
Objectives
Strategies 
Expected Outcome 
(With Time Frame)
Example:

1. John will remain abstinent from use of heroin and all other mood-altering substances and behaviors for 1 year, as demonstrated by negative random drug screens and self-report.

Example:

1. John will successfully complete residential treatment.

Example:

1. John will attend and actively participate in all individual and group counseling sessions. 
2. John will admit he has an addiction problem.

Example:

1. Schedule one individual counseling session and five group counseling sessions weekly.
2. John will complete Step One of the Twelve Steps.

Example:

1. Staff and self-report of regular attendance and active participation in individual and group counseling sessions (30 days). 
2. Self-report to counselor and members of group sessions (30 days).