A
ACTION – This is the primary work of the session. Action may include a number of skills: • Listening and reflecting; exploring content; • It may include identifying goals and setting up a plan to reach the goals; • Teaching a skill (copings skill or practical skill): e.g., how to catch, check and change a negative thought) • It may also include activities important for living (filling out applications; getting groceries; going to appointments). • When the Action is a task of living; the way to make these common daily actions consistent with recovery-oriented practices is to emphasize shared decision-making (doing it together); encouraging the person to take ownership of the task (filling out an application).
R
REVIEW – Check the client’s understanding of the encounter and ask for feedback. Always take the time to ask the client what he or she understood from your conversation, what was important to him or her, and what was helpful or unhelpful about your meeting. This will help you to identify what stood out for the client. This also invites feedback and provides opportunities for the client to shape the time you spend together (empowerment).
T
TAKE-HOME WORK – Talk with the client about what he or she would like to work on between this meeting and the next. It is important to make sure the client clearly understands what needs to be done for the next encounter. Work with the client to identify a reasonable amount of work to complete and check for barriers to completing the work. In the spirit of collaboration, it is helpful for you to see if there is something you can also do in between sessions.
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