Therapy Goals: give your therapy direction and purpose
Reviewed By
Stephanie Orr - Psychotherapist, MBABCP, 10+ years in the NHS and private practice
When you begin therapy, setting goals can give you direction and purpose, helping you focus on what matters most. This exercise encourages you to reflect on what you want to achieve and the changes you hope to see. Review these goals every now and then to help you track progress and celebrate your wins.
Free to try · Responses are private & encrypted
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What does the Therapy Goals Journal cover?
- The problems or challenges that brought you to therapy
- How you want to feel and think differently by the end
- What you want to be doing differently
- The goals you want to work on
- How you will know you are making progress
Who is this Therapy Goals Journal for?
Helpful if you:
🆕 Are starting therapy or a new phase of it
🧭 Are not sure what you want from therapy
📈 Want a way to track whether it is working
For therapists:
Send Therapy Goals during assessment or the first sessions to agree collaborative goals, then return to it at review points to measure progress against the client's own markers. Fully HIPAA and GDPR compliant.
Dr Harriet Mellotte
Clinical Psychologist & CBT Therapist, BABCP
“Offload is a fantastic resource for both clients and therapists. The world of CBT has been lacking an app which enables the sharing of CBT worksheets and homework tasks between clients and therapists, but Offload completely does this, making the service we offer more professional and the benefits to clients greater.”
Frequently asked questions
Why set goals for therapy?
Goals give therapy direction and make progress visible. Research consistently shows that clients who agree clear goals with their therapist do better, partly because sessions stay focused and partly because you can see when things are changing. Goals can and should evolve as therapy goes on.
What makes a good therapy goal?
Specific and personal. Feel less anxious is a wish; be able to go to the supermarket without leaving early is a goal. The prompts ask how you would like to feel, think and act differently, and how you will know you are making progress, which turns vague hopes into something you can work towards.
When should I complete this?
Ideally in the first few sessions, then return to it at review points, perhaps every six to eight sessions, to see what has shifted and what to work on next. Many therapists ask clients to complete it before the first appointment so the work starts with a shared picture.
Can my therapist see my goals?
Yes, if they have assigned this journal on Offload. It lets you agree goals collaboratively and measure progress against your own markers at review points. If you use Offload independently, your entries stay private to your account. Fully HIPAA and GDPR compliant.
Are you a therapist?
Assign this therapy tool and 200+ other interactive tools directly to your clients. Build personalised care plans, customise tools, and review client responses before sessions. HIPAA and GDPR compliant.
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