Mental Health Treatment Planning

The ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius said, “When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals; adjust the action steps.” Here at Wisconsin Wellness, where we know that the ultimate goal of a mental health treatment plan is long-term success. We also know the most effective “action steps” that are going to get you or your loved one there.

Understanding Mental Health Treatment Plans

Mental illness and mental health complications remain serious matters in the United States. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “Before the COVID-19 pandemic, about one in five adults had a mental illness. Without a doubt, the pandemic has affected the state of mental health in our country and made mental illness even more common. It is rare that a family is not touched by a mental health condition, one that can interfere with your or a loved one’s ability to work, sleep, eat, and enjoy life.” This is emblematic of why mental health treatment plans are so important.

Mental health treatment plans are plans that are created to achieve a certain aim in someone’s recovery. With some recovery centers, these plans are broad and applied to all clients. At Wisconsin Wellness, we find that this approach is lacking.

It is important that a mental health treatment plan be tailored to the individual who will be utilizing it. This means that a plan must first include assessments (such as a biopsychosocial assessment) and interviews. It allows the clinical, medical, and therapeutic professionals to better understand the needs of the individuals, as well as the type of goals that should be set.

Also, it is critical that all mental health treatment plans be comprehensive. This means that they must pull from all areas of recovery. It includes areas of psychotherapy like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), experiential therapy like art and music therapy, and holistic healing practices like yoga and meditation.

What Does a Mental Health Treatment Plan Look Like?

A mental health treatment plan should look both active and comprehensive. It should also be flexible. This can only happen when there are many means, methods, and modalities available to offer, which is exactly what we can do at Wisconsin Wellness.

A mental health treatment plan must always keep the client (or “patient”) front and center. Some recovery centers offer broad therapies that often don’t apply to an individual’s needs or goals and thus miss the mark. As the ancient Greek philosopher Hippocrates said, “It’s far more important to know what person the illness has than what illness the person has.”

A mental health treatment plan should never be passive, either. It should never be “wait and see.” No, an effective treatment plan will utilize a constant and constant set of tools and techniques to ensure that forward momentum remains a priority.

Psychotherapy and CBT in a Mental Health Treatment Plan

The foundation of an effective mental health treatment plan should almost always be evidence-based. “Evidence-based” simply means that a modality has been tested and studied enough to ensure a certain level of efficacy. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a prime example of this.

CBT’s primary aim is to get to the underlying matters of how we view ourselves and the world around us. According to the peer-reviewed journal Cognitive Therapy and Research, “Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) refers to a class of interventions that share the basic premise that mental disorders and psychological distress are maintained by cognitive factors. The core premise of this treatment approach, as pioneered by Beck (1970) and Ellis (1962), holds that maladaptive cognitions contribute to the maintenance of emotional distress and behavioral [troubles]. According to Beck’s model, these maladaptive cognitions include general beliefs, or schemas, about the world, the self, and the future, giving rise to specific and automatic thoughts in particular situations.”

CBT can be particularly beneficial for those with a serious mental illness, an eating disorder, substance use disorder (SUD), or those with a dual diagnosis. Many people don’t realize just how common a dual diagnosis can be. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “7.7 million adults have co-occurring mental and substance use disorders… Of the 20.3 million adults with substance use disorders, 37.9% also had mental illnesses,” and “Among the 42.1 million adults with mental illness, 18.2% also had substance use disorders.” An effective mental health plan utilizing CBT is going to take all of these factors into account.

Neuroscientific Psychotherapies and EMDR in a Mental Health Treatment Plan

There are also more neuroscientific means that can be highly effective components of a mental health plan. This includes eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. It is especially true for individuals who are struggling with their mental health due to matters of trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which are also more common than many people may think. According to the peer-reviewed journal Psychological Medicine, “General population studies have shown that a large proportion of people in developed countries have been exposed to at least one TE [traumatic event] in their lifetime (estimates from 28 to 90%), with the most common events being the unexpected death of a loved one, motor vehicle accidents and being mugged.”

EMDR can be highly beneficial. According to the Permanente Journal, “Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is an empirically validated psychotherapy approach that medical personnel can employ to treat the sequelae of psychological trauma and other negative life experiences. Its ability to rapidly treat unprocessed memories of these adverse experiences has important implications for the medical community, as they appear to be the foundation for an array of clinical symptoms. Clinical applications of EMDR include a wide variety of psychological [difficulties] affecting patients and family members, as well as stress-induced physical disorders and medically unexplained symptoms.” 

Also, EMDR can be used in a psychiatric hospital setting, a residential treatment center, a partial hospitalization program (PHP), or an intensive outpatient program (IOP). It is a very versatile form of psychotherapy.

Experiential Therapy in a Mental Health Treatment Plan

An experiential therapy track can be a great addition to any comprehensive treatment plan. This includes experiential therapies like art therapy and music therapy, which offer creative outlets that can then be utilized in one-on-one “talk therapy” sessions.

For example, music therapy is both versatile and beneficial. According to the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Psychology,  “Music therapy is defined as the evidence-based use of music interventions to achieve the goals of clients with the help of music therapists who have completed a music therapy program. In the United States, music therapists must complete 1,200 [hours] of clinical training and pass the certification exam by the Certification Board for Music Therapists. Music therapists use evidence-based music interventions to address the mental, physical, or emotional needs of an individual.”

Experiential therapies also offer an opportunity for individuals to accomplish immediate goals and thus achieve both personal validation and a sense of accomplishment. Eventually, these “small-goal” accomplishments make the larger goal of long-term recovery much more mentally accessible.

Holistic Healing in a Mental Health Treatment Plan

While a recovery plan may be rooted in evidence-based psychotherapies, it is important to have supplemental holistic healing options. This can often best ensure that an individual will achieve a level of recovery on all four levels (the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual). It also ensures that an individual’s recovery goals are never “one-note.” Ultimately, holistic healing practices broaden the recovery horizon of those looking to heal at a molecular level.

Yoga is an exceptional holistic healing method that can also incorporate short and long-term goals. The iconic yogi and spiritual teacher B.K.S. Iyengar once said, “Health is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind, and spirit. When one is free from physical disabilities and mental distractions, the gates of the soul open.”

Yoga and meditation have been practiced for thousands of years. Originally, this was relegated to religious or spiritual practice but has since moved into the realm of recovery.

Besides goal setting, yoga also offers a myriad of other benefits. According to the International Journal of Yoga (IJOY), “Therapeutic yoga is defined as the application of yoga postures and practice to the treatment of health conditions and involves instruction in yogic practices and teachings to prevent reduce or alleviate structural, physiological, emotional and spiritual pain, suffering or limitations… [Y]ogic practices enhance muscular strength and body flexibility, promote and improve respiratory and cardiovascular function, promote recovery from and treatment of addiction, reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and chronic pain, improve sleep patterns, and enhance overall well-being and quality of life.”

Also, meditation is an ideal way to set goals in a mental health plan. Meditation (within the practice of yoga or separately) allows an individual to quiet their mind and visualize what they want to accomplish. B.K.S. Iyengar also said, “Meditation is oneness, when there is no longer time, sex [gender identity], or country. The moment when, after you have concentrated on doing a pose (or anything else) perfectly, you hold it and then forget everything, not because you want to forget but because you are concentrated: this is meditation.” Yoga and meditation are not about concentrating on the past but rather about focusing on the future.

Setting Clear Goals in a Mental Health Treatment Plan

Connecting with a mental health professional is crucial when it comes to setting clear goals in a mental health treatment plan. They are able to make initial assessments that are going to pay dividends down the road when achievable (and “clear”) goals are set.

Setting clear goals in mental health recovery is vital because ambiguity can lead to complacency and ultimately lead to a less-than-successful recovery. So, what does setting clear goals in a mental health treatment plan look like? The following are a few questions that can be asked for clarification:

• How long do I want, or am I willing, to stay in treatment?
• Who is going to benefit from my recovery?
• What mental health hurdles am I looking to get over?
• How long am I going to stay connected to a set recovery plan?
• Is my focus on all aspects of recovery (the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual)?
• Who will be involved in my recovery?
• How am I going to accomplish my goal (or goals)?

Once these questions are asked and answered, then the process of healing can begin. However, it is also important to remember that recovery is more about the journey than the finish line. Yes, there must be clear, achievable goals, but the most effective mental health recovery plans are going to have continuous goal setting. 

Executing a Mental Health Treatment Plan

The iconic 20th-century artist Pablo Picasso said, “Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success.” Yes, executing a successful mental health treatment plan is all about taking action.

It is important to remember that most people’s recovery doesn’t involve involuntary commitment to a mental health care facility or clinic. So, the act of going to treatment is the start of the positive execution. It is the choice that is the catalyst for one’s desired recovery. 

To execute an effective mental health treatment plan, one must be a consumer of their own recovery culture. This means that one must be their own advocate and believe in the goals that they are setting. It is the only way that a mental health treatment plan can be optimally successful. A mental health treatment plan must be executed with the strong belief that one’s goals will be met. With the right treatment plan at Wisconsin Wellness, this is not only possible, but it is probable.

Long-Term Recovery: Accomplishing Goals in a Mental Health Treatment Plan With Wisconsin Wellness

At Wisconsin Wellness, we know the importance of setting goals in recovery. Yes, the ultimate goal of long-term recovery, but also all of the important goals that can be accomplished along the way.

Confucius also said, “The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential… these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.” These are the keys that one will find when they work with us at Wisconsin Wellness. However, the first key is reaching out and asking for help. We’ll be here when you do.

Setting up an effective mental health treatment plan is crucial for long-term mental health recovery. This includes setting clear goals within a treatment plan. For more information regarding mental health treatment plans and how they can help you achieve the recovery you both deserve and desire, please reach out to Wisconsin Wellness today at (920) 404-2100.