Example Treatment Plan: Planning With Suicidal Teens

Treatment planning can be complicated and if we are able to utilize the correct language, maintain a clinical/objective focus, and emphasize client need, we will be able to explore most of the treatment options available to teens.

This brief article focuses on providing clinicians with an example of how I structure my treatment plan for suicidal teens.

Note: this article is for clinicians only

Goodtherapy.org request from viewers

*For the listeners of my webinar presentation with Goodtherapy.org today (1/5/18), I have included an example of my treatment plan and the safety plan I use with suicidal teens. Thank you for tuning in.

One of the things I want to encourage you to do is frequent treatment plan reviews with suicidal teens. I tend to review treatment plan goals with the teen and his or her family every 90 days. This ensures that we are on track, that we are objectively measuring things, and shows insurance that we are engaging in risk management. This becomes really significant with youths who have attempted suicide.

My initial treatment plan

MY PRACTICE MATTERS, LLC
12345 Post Box Account Rd, STE 111
Rhode Island, NY 12345-998
909-999-0021

Client name: Kelly Remmer

Client DOB: 12/12/12

Next review date: I tend to make this 90 days

Presenting concern: Kelly reports struggling with depressed mood, anxious thoughts, frequent suicidal thoughts, and panic attacks 9 days out of the month since October of 2017.

Short-term goal: Kelly will engage in learning about her diagnosis including triggers to suicidal thoughts and apply coping skills outside of therapy on a daily basis.

Long-term goals: Management of depressive symptoms including an increase in ability to choose and utilize coping skills.

Goals:

*I make this section objective. For example, “Kelly will engage in learning more about her depression and complete homework assignments at least 1-2x per week.” I also use behavioral terms and obtain copies or examples of activities used as proof that the treatment plan is being followed and is working (or not working).

1. Kelly will engage in increasing her use of coping skills prior to panic attacks.
2. Kelly will attend group therapy at least 3-4 times out of the month to help her learn socialization skills needed for avoiding poor decision making when triggered by her peers to cut herself.
3. Kelly will engage in reducing the number of suicidal thoughts by utilizing “thought stopping,” DBT-based, her safety plan, and relaxation techniques.
4. Kelly will attend therapy regularly and engage in homework assignments outside of therapy until her depression can be managed better.

_______________________________                                                       _______________________________

Client signature (14 and up)                                                          Parent signature

_______________________________

Therapist

My treatment plan REVIEW (after 90 days)

MY PRACTICE MATTERS, LLC
12345 Post Box Account Rd, STE 111
Rhode Island, NY 12345-998
909-999-0021
The most important thing you want to focus on in this tx plan review is 
regression or progression.

Client name: Kelly Remmer

Client DOB: 12/12/12

Next review date: I tend to make this 90 days

Presenting concern: Kelly reports struggling with depressed mood, anxious thoughts, frequent suicidal thoughts, and panic attacks 9 days out of the month since October of 2017.

Short-term goal: Kelly will engage in learning about her diagnosis including triggers to suicidal thoughts and apply coping skills outside of therapy on a daily basis.

Long-term goals: Management of depressive symptoms including an increase in ability to choose and utilize coping skills.

Goals:

*I make this section objective. For example, “Kelly will engage in learning more about her depression and complete homework assignments at least 1-2x per week.” I also use behavioral terms and obtain copies or examples of activities used as proof that the treatment plan is being followed and is working (or not working).

• Kelly will engage in increasing her use of coping skills prior to panic attacks.

Progress/Regression:____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

• Kelly will attend group therapy at least 3-4 times out of the month to help her learn socialization skills needed for avoiding poor decision making when triggered by her peers to cut herself.

Progress/Regression:____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

• Kelly will engage in reducing the number of suicidal thoughts by utilizing “thought stopping,” DBT-based, her safety plan, and relaxation techniques.

Progress/Regression:____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

• Kelly will attend therapy regularly and engage in homework assignments outside of therapy until her depression can be managed better.

Progress/Regression:____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________                                                       _______________________________

Client signature (14 and up)                                                          Parent signature

_______________________________

Therapist

*I also include a thorough safety plan in the chart along with the treatment plan including any suicide self-assessments or scales I may have used.

Bonus

For clinicians who would like information on treatment/safety planning with veterans, click here: https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/docs/vasafetyplancolor.pdf.