This podcast episode is based on Journey to Recovery: A Comprehensive Guide to Recovery from Mental Health and Addiction Issues by Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes  Read it for free on Amazon Kindle Unlimited.
Journey to Recovery Series
Goal Setting
Presented by: Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes Executive Director, AllCEUs
Podcast Host: Counselor Toolbox & Happiness isn’t Brain Surgery
CEUs are available for this presentation at https://www.allceus.com/member/cart/index/product/id/924/c/
Objectives
~ Identify the purpose of setting goals
~ Learn about SMART goals and how to set them
~ Explore pitfalls in goal setting
Why Do I Care
~ Goal setting is an integral part of behavior change
~ Goal setting is something everyone does every day
~ Ineffective goals can have a negative impact on self esteem
~ Ineffective goals can make people mistakenly think they are helpless to change anything.
Activity
~ Identifying pitfalls in goal setting
~ Prepare an authentic Italian meal.
~ Learn what an authentic Italian meal consists of
~ Decide what is going to be in YOUR meal
~ Learn about how to prepare that meal
~ Identify what ingredients you need for that meal (and get what you don’t have)
~ Do you do everything at the same time? (Hint: No, the sauce is made first so the seasonings can blend)
SMART Goals
~ Specific
~ Measurable
~ Achievable
~ Realistic
~ Time Limited
~ Think about the last goal you set that was successful…
~ Think about the last goal you set that was unsuccessful.
~ What is the difference between the two?
~ SMART?
~ Motivation?
Goals—The Beginning
~ Goals (What & Why)þ
~ I want to…so that I can …
~ Goals are the overarching reason a person begins to do something.
~ Often goals are broad and abstract. “I want to be healthier.” “I want to be happy.”
~ Goals need to be broken down into manageable, meaningful, observable objectives.
~ Phrase goals as adding a positive instead of removing a negative.
Start With Problem Definition
~ What are the symptoms of the problem?
~ How are the symptoms impacting your overall functioning?
~ What is your perception of the problem?
~ What are your strengths in relation to solving this problem?
Goal Development
~ In general, if the problem is resolved what will you achieve/what will be different?
~ What is the absence of the problem?
~ If I am not ____ then I am ______
~ How will your best friend know when you have achieved your goal?
Miracle Question
~ One way to elicit goals is through the miracle question:
~ If you woke up tomorrow and you were _____ (i.e. your problem was resolved/goal was achieved) what would be different?
~ This provides insight into the symptoms/definition of the problem and motivations for change.
Specific
~ Overall Goal for Treatment
~ What is the problem?
~ Example: Depression
~ How will you know when the problem is resolved?
~ Emotionally, I won’t feel as hopeless and helpless. I wont dread getting out of bed.
~ Mentally, I won’t be so foggy headed and will be able to concentrate
~ Physically, I will have more energy and lose some weight
~ Socially, I will enjoy spending time with friends
Specific
~ Main Issue
~ Learn about the overall problem (Depression)
~ Learn about your symptoms/causes/triggers of the problem
~ Identify ways to address your specific symptoms/causes/triggers
~ Pick one way to address your specific symptoms (helplessness, difficulty concentrating, no energy, no desire to interact with others) and start doing that.
Measurable (Goals)
~ Frequency (#/time)
~ Nu