Over the years there are many methods of record keeping and many ways to "formulate" all the data that a psychotherapist collects so that a client's situation can be described in a way that is helpful and makes sense.
After using all different kinds of recording methods such as a "SOAP" note which is based on four key concepts: subjective data, objective data, assessment, plan" and OHIO which is based on objective data, hypothesis, intervention, outcome, I have found the useful way for me to formulate the data I collect in what I call PPOIP which stands for problem, preferences, obstacles, ideas, plan.
The most important key ideas are the client's preferences, that is, what does he/she prefer to have happen, and obstacles, that is, what keeps the client from moving in his/her preferred direction?
As Irving Yalom writes in his book, The Gift Of Therapy:
"My task was to remove obstacles blocking my patient's path. I did not have to do the entire job; I did not have to inspirit the patient with the desire to grow, with curiosity, will, zest for life, caring, loyalty, or any of the myriad of characteristics that make us fully human. No, what I had to do was to identify and remove obstacles. The rest would follow automatically, fueled by the self-actualizing forces within the patient." p.1
Once you help the client remove or move over, around, through, the obstacles, get out the way and let the client live her life.
I tell my clients that my job is to help them figure out ways to get unstuck. When they get things on a better track, on the right road, go with it.
This is article #2 in a series on Doing Therapy.
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