Encouraging clinicians to draw upon knowledge from various areas of psychology, this worksheet helps clinicians to develop individualized case formulations by hypothesizing about the specific processes acting to maintain a client's difficulties.
Offers theory, guidance, and prompts for mental health professionals. Downloads are in Fillable PDF format where appropriate.
A copy of the worksheet in PDF format.
An editable Microsoft PowerPoint version of the resource.
The Process-Focused Case Formulation worksheet is designed for mental health professionals who encounter clients with comorbid issues or problems where a single clear evidence-based treatment path does not exist. By encouraging a theory-driven approach, this resource allows clinicians to make educated hypotheses about the mechanisms maintaining client difficulties. These mechanisms might include behavioral, cognitive, psychodynamic, or mindfulness-based elements.
This worksheet guides the clinician to identify problems and triggers, hypothesise about maintenance mechanisms, and to develop a treatment plan. It emphasizes formulating testable hypotheses to refine understanding and interventions over time.
Clinicians benefit from a versatile tool that adapts to the complexities of real-world client presentations.
For clients where a disorder-driven formulation seems less appropriate.
List client-identified or therapist-identified problems to address.
Determine recent triggers or precipitants for presenting issues.
Consider potential mechanisms which might be acting to maintain the problems.
Explore potential origins or predispositions for these mechanisms.
Formulate a treatment plan based on identified mechanisms.
Ensure the client understands and agrees with the hypothesized mechanisms.
Continuously refine hypotheses as new information emerges.
The Process-Focused Case Formulation encourages therapists to consider a blend of theoretical perspectives to build a comprehensive understanding of client difficulties. By situating problems within cognitive, behavioral, or systemic frameworks, therapists can craft flexible formulations adaptable to complex scenarios.
This approach contrasts with more rigid diagnostic models by allowing fluid integration of multiple theories: learning theory focuses on behavioral antecedents and consequences, cognitive theory on schemas and emotions, and acceptance/mindfulness on experiential avoidance and cognitive fusion. By doing so, clinicians can hypothesize about the core processes driving client issues, creating a dynamic formulation that evolves with therapeutic progress.
