The plan formulation method: An empirically validated and clinically useful procedure applied to a clinical case of a patient with a severe personality disorder. Issue 3 (7th January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gazzillo, Francesco; Curtis, John; Silberschatz, George
• Other Names: Critchfield Kenneth L. guestEditor.; Gazzillo Francesco guestEditor.; Kramer Ueli guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Journal of clinical psychology. Volume 78:Issue 3(2022)
• Page Start: 409
• Page End: 421
• Publication Date: 2022-01-07
• Subjects: case‐specific approach -- control‐mastery theory -- plan formulation -- plan formulation method; Psychology -- Periodicals; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1002/jclp.23299
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-9762

Abstract

Abstract: The plan formulation method (PFM) is an empirically validated procedure for identifying a patient's goals for therapy, what is hindering the patient from attaining those goals, and how the patient is likely to work in therapy. In this paper, we employ the PFM to analyze the initial psychotherapy sessions of Geena, a 30‐year‐old outpatient with borderline personality disorder and relational and substance abuse problems. Employing the PFM, we identify a family of pathogenic beliefs (e.g., that she is unlovable and unworthy; that her parents will be hurt if she has satisfying intimate relationships) that Geena sought to disprove in her therapy and explain how she worked with the therapist to do so. We illustrate how the PFM can help the therapist identify what information and what types of interventions will be helpful for a given patient.