Therapy Blueprint - Universal

The Therapy Blueprint is a CBT tool that helps consolidate therapeutic gains by summarizing the work done in therapy, promoting resilience, and preventing relapse.

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Professional version

Offers theory, guidance, and prompts for mental health professionals. Downloads are in Fillable PDF format where appropriate.

Client version

Includes client-friendly guidance. Downloads are in Fillable PDF format where appropriate.

Editable version (PPT)

An editable Microsoft PowerPoint version of the resource.

Overview

The Therapy Blueprint acts as a comprehensive summary of a client's therapeutic journey. By mirroring the structure of therapy itself, it aids clients in reflecting on their progress, reinforcing what they have learned, and planning for future challenges. It includes sections on clients' difficulties, maintaining factors, treatment gains, and therapeutic progress, and is designed to be introduced to clients prior to ending therapy.

Why Use This Resource?

The Therapy Blueprint serves multiple functions in enhancing therapy outcomes:

  • Encourages clients to reflect on their therapeutic journey, consolidating their learning.
  • Provides a structured format to summarize therapy's key components, enhancing memory retention.
  • Supports relapse prevention by making helpful strategies more accessible.
  • Promotes resilience by reinforcing knowledge and skills learned during therapy.

Key Benefits

Reflection

Helps clinicians and clients review therapeutic progress.

Structure

Provides a clear and comprehensive framework for capturing learning.

Prevention

Assists in anticipating potential future setbacks and planning coping strategies.

Resilience

Reinforces resilience by summarizing developed skills and knowledge.

Who is this for?

All Clients

This resource is suitable for all clients coming to the end of talking therapy.

Integrating it into your practice

01

Assessment

Explore what problems brought the client to therapy and how they developed.

02

Formulation

Discuss how and why difficulties persisted.

03

Treatment

Highlight new skills and techniques the client learned.

04

Progress

Reflect on past and current goals, and discuss new goals.

05

Prevention

Plan for potential setbacks and develop coping strategies.

Theoretical Background & Therapist Guidance

A therapy blueprint is CBT tool which summarizes the work a therapist and patient have completed together. It represents the past (the problems, what maintained them), the present (the therapy itself, new knowledge learned and skills developed) and the future (goals, plans, and strategies to manage setbacks). Therapy blueprints also act as a form of relapse prevention – by making new knowledge more accessible, clients are more able to cope effectively with future setbacks. This simple blueprint worksheet helps clients to reflect on their problem and what kept it going, knowledge and strategies that they learned in therapy, and their goals for the future.

What's inside

  • A detailed guide for summarizing therapeutic work from assessment to future planning.
  • Structured worksheets for reflecting on therapy.
  • Sections for exploring client problems, maintaining factors, treatment progress, and relapse prevention strategies.
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FAQs

A therapy blueprint is a CBT tool that summarizes therapy work, focusing on the past (problems), present (therapy progress), and future (relapse prevention and goals).
By reflecting on learned skills and planning for setbacks, clients are better prepared to manage future challenges.
It is advisable to introduce the blueprint towards the end of therapy but can be mentioned earlier to prepare clients.
Problems, maintaining factors, knowledge, and skills are core sections.

How This Resource Improves Clinical Outcomes

By using the Therapy Blueprint, clients can:

  • Reflect on their experiences of therapy.
  • Celebrate the progress they have made. 
  • Identify and consolidate new skills and key learning.
  • Prepare for potential setbacks with clear and accessible plans.

References And Further Reading

  • Wells, A. (1997). Cognitive therapy of anxiety disorders: A practice manual and conceptual guide. Hoboken, NJ, US: John Wiley & Sons Inc.