Writing Measurable Outcomes in Psychotherapy

209 Pages·2020·6.151 MB·English

by  Sharon Kopyc

Writing Measurable Outcomes
in Psychotherapy

Writing Measurable Outcomes
in Psychotherapy
SHARON KOPYC, LCSW
1
1
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Library of Congress Cataloging- in- Publication Data
Names: Kopyc, Sharon, author.
Title: Writing measurable outcomes in psychotherapy / Sharon Kopyc, LCSW.
Description: New York, NY : Oxford University Press, [2020] |
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2019053058 (print) | LCCN 2019053059 (ebook) |
ISBN 9780190927684 (paperback) | ISBN 9780190927707 (epub)
Subjects: LCSH: Psychotherapy—Outcome assessment. |
Psychotherapy—Practice—Evaluation.
Classification: LCC RC480.75.K67 2020 (print) | LCC RC480.75 (ebook) |
DDC 616.89/14—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019053058
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019053059
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Printed by Marquis, Canada
This book is dedicated to the memory of my son,
Jonathan Aaron Albert (1982– 2003)

CONTENTS
Introduction 1
1. About Psychotherapy and Outcomes 8
2. Bloom’s Taxonomy in Psychotherapy: The Cognitive Domain
Rating Scale (CDRS) 28
3. Assessment: Gathering Information to Write Goals and Objectives 46
4. Goals and Objectives as They Relate to Outcomes 82
5. Examples of Writing Measurable Outcomes Using Language of
Evidence- Based Practices 103
6. Treatment Plans: Treatment Plans with Measurable
Objectives/ Outcomes 124
7. Stumbling Blocks in Writing Measurable Outcomes 146
8. Questions and Review 162
Appendix 179
Index 189

Introduction
In 2013, I became very aware of the notion of “measurable outcomes” as
an important part of clinical accountability. Unfortunately, my awakening
was an abrupt and harsh experience when, in beginning my role as di-
rector of an outpatient clinic, an audit was conducted by our funder and
the result was that a majority of the charts did not reflect any measurable
outcomes based on the goals and objectives written in the treatment plans.
It was a somber time for the agency, as thousands of dollars were returned
to the funder for this deficit, and a provisional license was consequently
given to the agency.
While I did not feel personally responsible as I had only been on the
job for a month, it was clear what my work would be in the next year.
What this meant was that I, as director, needed to rectify the problem
by training therapists, already overburdened with large caseloads, how to
write measurable outcomes. While it may seem to be a simple problem
to learn how to write measurable outcomes, it became quite apparent
that therapists had no training in writing objectives that were measur-
able. Treatment plan objectives typically looked like “Client will increase
self- esteem,” “Client will reduce anxiety,” and “Client will improve mood.”
These therapists, all well educated clinically, articulate both verbally and
in writing, had very good analytical skills when it came to discussing cases
and writing comprehensive narratives. The objectives they wrote were
what they read about in texts and what they discussed in supervision, and