Therapist Interventions List
What it’s used for:
When writing notes, feel free to browse through this interventions list for easier writing.
How it works:
I recommend pulling out 2-3 interventions per session, depending on the length of the session and content covered.
How to personalize it:
Personalize your notes as much as possible, but the following interventions list does cover a wide variety of modalities and should easily fit into most sessions.
You can also use this list to adopt a checklist for your notes. If you’d like to create a checklist, my recommendation is to write free form notes (using one of the included templates) for at least six months. Then schedule a time to review your notes and pull out the most common 10-15 interventions you used during that time. That way your checklist is personalized.
Therapy Interventions List
Advocated…
Assessed…
Assigned homework/task regarding…
Assisted client in identifying a time when… (able to use a coping skill, did not isolate, etc.)
Assisted client in developing a list for…
Assisted client with accessing…
Assisted with labeling feelings related to…
Attempted to…
Challenged… (client’s cognitive distortions)
Clarified/sought clarification regarding…
Coached client in… (verbalizing feelings, making an apology, etc.)
Collaborated with client and developed a plan to…
Consulted regarding recommendations…
Consulted regarding changes in…
Created a behavior plan to assist with…
Created a list of…
De-escalated client by…
Demonstrated…
Developed problem-solving skills… (e.g. pro’s and con’s list, breaking tasks into smaller parts, etc.)
Developed a plan to…
Differentiated between… (wants and needs, thoughts and feelings, etc.)
Directed family to…
Discussed concepts of…
Enacted…
Encouraged…
Evaluated consequences of…
Examined benefits/consequences of…
Explored client’s feelings related to…
Explored onset of…
Facilitated…
Gathered history of…
Guided client in task of…
Implemented…
Inquired about client’s progress towards…
Identified alternative behaviors to ______such as…
Identified triggers associated with…
Identified coping strategies such as ______to assist with…
Introduced art project/game to assist client with… (labeling feelings, practicing communication, etc.)
Introduced strategy of…
Led client in… (practicing, problem-solving, etc.)
Normalized…
Paraphrased…
Planned…
Pointed out… (consequences for, strengths of, etc.)
Prompted client to… (use relaxation skills, communication skills, etc.)
Practiced (thought stopping when)…
Problem-solved with client…
Processed fears related to…
Provided psychoeducation regarding…
Provided treatment recommendations regarding…
Questioned evidence for conclusions of…
Reassured…
Redirected client when…
Referred…
Reflected back…
Reframed…
Reinforced client for…
Resolved…
Reviewed plan for… (relapse prevention, safety, etc.)
Reviewed progress related to…
Role modeled…
Role played…
Set goals for…
Set limits/boundaries regarding…
Summarized…
Trained…
Used cues to…
Used scaling to identify… (level of anxiety, depression, etc.)