Psychotherapeutic Session Outline
Session Length
30 minutes
Patient Mood
Depressed
Main Condition
Not specific
Session Goals
- Foster a connection with the patient.
- Utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques.
- Begin exploring thoughts and feelings leading to the patient’s depression.
Session Structure
1. Welcome and Introduction (5 minutes)
- Greeting: Warmly welcome the patient and create a comfortable atmosphere.
- Check-in: Ask the patient how they have been since the last session, even if the previous session was a while ago.
2. Brief Review of Previous Sessions (5 minutes)
- Explore Progress: If applicable, inquire about any changes or notable events since the last session.
- Acknowledge Indifference: Gently acknowledge the patient’s neutral engagement. Normalize their feelings about the therapy process.
3. Presenting Thoughts and Feelings (10 minutes)
- Thought Diary: Introduce a simple thought diary. Ask the patient to identify any negative thoughts they’ve had recently.
- Example prompts:
- "Can you describe a moment when you felt particularly down?"
- "What were some of the thoughts you experienced in that moment?"
- Cognitive Distortions: Explain common cognitive distortions (e.g., all-or-nothing thinking, overgeneralization) and ask if the patient recognizes any in their own thoughts.
- Encourage Expression: Utilize open-ended questions to foster discussion:
- "What do you think contributes to your feelings of depression?"
4. Cognitive Restructuring (5 minutes)
- Identifying Automatic Thoughts: Guide the patient to identify automatic negative thoughts (ANTs) related to their feelings.
- Challenging Thoughts: Model how to challenge these thoughts. For example:
- "What evidence do you have that supports this thought? Conversely, what evidence contradicts it?"
5. Introducing Coping Strategies (3 minutes)
- Breathing Techniques: Teach a simple breathing technique to help alleviate immediate feelings of low energy or despair.
- Positive Affirmations: Encourage the patient to come up with one positive affirmation they can repeat throughout the week.
6. Wrap-Up and Assignments (2 minutes)
- Summarize Key Points: Recap the main insights from the session.
- Homework: Assign the patient the task of keeping a thought diary until the next session. Encourage them to bring up one instance of challenging a negative thought.
- Encouragement: Reinforce the importance of small steps toward engagement and that progress can be gradual.
Closing
Express Gratitude and Hope: Thank the patient for participating. Highlight the importance of taking the time to explore their thoughts and feelings, emphasizing that it’s perfectly okay to feel indifferent at times in this process. Remind them that change is possible, even if it feels out of reach currently.
End of Session