Mental Health Treatment Plan Examples PDF
Free treatment plan examples and templates for mental health professionals. Includes SMART goals, evidence-based interventions, and condition-specific plans for depression, anxiety, PTSD, and more.
Dr. Alisa Kouznetsova
Medical Director, PatientNotes
Key Takeaway: Effective mental health treatment plans combine clear, measurable goals with evidence-based interventions. This guide provides ready-to-use examples for common presentations including depression, anxiety disorders, trauma, and substance use.
What is a Mental Health Treatment Plan?
A mental health treatment plan is a structured document that outlines the therapeutic approach for addressing a client's presenting problems. It serves as a roadmap for treatment, guiding both clinician and client toward specific, measurable outcomes. Treatment plans work alongside your biopsychosocial assessment and ongoing session notes to form a comprehensive clinical record.
Essential Components
Client Information
- Demographics and identifying information (from intake forms)
- Primary diagnosis (DSM-5-TR)
- Secondary/co-occurring diagnoses
- Medical conditions affecting treatment
- Current medications
Treatment Elements
- Presenting problems (client words)
- Measurable treatment goals
- Specific objectives and timeframes
- Interventions and modalities
- Progress indicators tracked in progress notes
Writing SMART Goals for Treatment Plans
SMART goals are the foundation of effective treatment planning. Each goal should be specific enough to measure progress and realistic enough to achieve within the treatment timeframe.
SMART Criteria Explained
What exactly will the client do differently? Define the target behavior clearly.
How will progress be tracked? Use frequency, duration, or rating scales.
Is this realistic given the client's current functioning and resources?
Does this align with what matters most to the client?
By when should this be achieved? Set a specific timeframe.
Depression Treatment Plan Example
Treatment Plan: Major Depressive Disorder
DSM-5-TR: F32.1 (Moderate) | Plan Date: [Current Date] | Review: 90 days
Presenting Problem (Client's Words):
"I can't get motivated to do anything. I sleep all the time but still feel exhausted. I've stopped seeing my friends and nothing feels enjoyable anymore."
Goal 1: Reduce Depressive Symptoms
Client will reduce PHQ-9 score from 18 (moderately severe) to 9 or below (mild) within 12 weeks.
Objective 1.1: Client will identify and challenge 3 negative thought patterns per week using CBT thought records by week 4.
Objective 1.2: Client will establish consistent sleep schedule (bed by 11pm, wake by 7am) 5 of 7 nights by week 6.
Objective 1.3: Client will resume 2 previously enjoyed activities weekly by week 8.
Goal 2: Increase Social Connection
Client will increase meaningful social interactions from 0 to 3 per week within 10 weeks.
Objective 2.1: Client will initiate text/phone contact with one friend weekly by week 4.
Objective 2.2: Client will attend one in-person social activity weekly by week 8.
Interventions:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) - weekly 50-minute sessions
- Behavioral Activation (BA) - activity scheduling and monitoring
- Psychoeducation on depression and the CBT model
- Sleep hygiene intervention
- Coordination with prescriber regarding SSRI medication
Anxiety Treatment Plan Example
Treatment Plan: Generalized Anxiety Disorder
DSM-5-TR: F41.1 | Plan Date: [Current Date] | Review: 90 days
Presenting Problem:
"I worry about everything constantly. My mind races at night and I can't sleep. I get headaches and my muscles are always tense. It's affecting my work performance."
Goal 1: Reduce Anxiety Symptoms
Client will reduce GAD-7 score from 16 (severe) to 7 or below (mild) within 12 weeks.
Objective 1.1: Client will practice progressive muscle relaxation 5 of 7 days by week 3.
Objective 1.2: Client will use cognitive restructuring to challenge worry thoughts, reducing worry time from 4+ hours to <1 hour daily by week 8.
Objective 1.3: Client will implement "worry time" strategy, limiting worry to designated 30-minute window by week 6.
Goal 2: Improve Sleep Quality
Client will increase sleep efficiency from 60% to 85% and reduce sleep onset latency from 90 minutes to 30 minutes within 8 weeks.
Objective 2.1: Client will establish consistent pre-sleep routine excluding screens by week 2.
Objective 2.2: Client will practice relaxation technique before bed nightly by week 4.
Interventions:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for anxiety (CBT-A)
- Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) training
- Worry exposure and cognitive defusion techniques
- Sleep restriction and stimulus control
- Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) techniques
PTSD Treatment Plan Example
Treatment Plan: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
DSM-5-TR: F43.10 | Plan Date: [Current Date] | Review: 90 days
Presenting Problem:
"I have nightmares almost every night about the accident. Loud noises make me jump. I avoid driving and any reminders make me feel like I'm back there."
Goal 1: Reduce Trauma-Related Symptoms
Client will reduce PCL-5 score from 52 to below 33 (subclinical) within 16 weeks.
Objective 1.1: Client will develop grounding skills and use them to reduce flashback duration from 10+ minutes to <2 minutes by week 6.
Objective 1.2: Client will complete trauma narrative with therapist and report 50% reduction in distress when recounting by week 12.
Objective 1.3: Client will reduce nightmare frequency from 5/week to 1/week by week 14.
Goal 2: Reduce Avoidance Behaviors
Client will resume driving and complete 5-step exposure hierarchy within 12 weeks.
Objective 2.1: Client will sit in parked car for 15 minutes with SUDS <4 by week 4.
Objective 2.2: Client will drive in low-traffic areas with support person by week 8.
Objective 2.3: Client will drive independently to familiar destinations by week 12.
Interventions:
- Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy - 90-minute sessions
- EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
- Grounding and stabilization techniques
- In-vivo exposure with hierarchy development
- Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) for nightmares
- Regular mental status examination tracking
Substance Use Disorder Treatment Plan Example
Treatment Plan: Alcohol Use Disorder
DSM-5-TR: F10.20 (Moderate) | Plan Date: [Current Date] | Review: 30 days
Presenting Problem:
"I drink every night to relax after work. It's gotten to where I need 5-6 drinks to feel anything. My spouse threatened to leave if I don't stop."
Goal 1: Achieve and Maintain Abstinence
Client will maintain complete abstinence from alcohol for 90 consecutive days.
Objective 1.1: Client will complete medical detox and maintain abstinence through day 7.
Objective 1.2: Client will attend 3 AA/SMART Recovery meetings weekly and report to therapist.
Objective 1.3: Client will identify and utilize 5 coping strategies for cravings by week 4.
Goal 2: Develop Healthy Coping Skills
Client will develop and regularly use at least 5 alcohol-free stress management strategies within 8 weeks.
Objective 2.1: Client will identify high-risk triggers and develop coping plan for each by week 2.
Objective 2.2: Client will practice mindfulness or relaxation technique daily by week 4.
Objective 2.3: Client will establish evening routine replacing drinking behavior by week 6.
Interventions:
- Motivational Interviewing (MI) - building intrinsic motivation
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Substance Use (CBT-SU)
- Relapse Prevention Planning
- 12-Step Facilitation or SMART Recovery integration
- Family/couples therapy sessions (monthly)
- Medication coordination (Naltrexone, Antabuse as applicable)
Bipolar Disorder Treatment Plan Example
Treatment Plan: Bipolar I Disorder
DSM-5-TR: F31.1x | Plan Date: [Current Date] | Review: 30 days
Goal 1: Achieve Mood Stability
Client will maintain mood stability (YMRS <8, PHQ-9 <10) for 8 consecutive weeks.
Objective 1.1: Client will maintain 100% medication adherence as verified by weekly check-in.
Objective 1.2: Client will complete daily mood tracking and share with therapist weekly.
Objective 1.3: Client will identify early warning signs and complete prevention action plan by week 4.
Goal 2: Maintain Sleep Regulation
Client will maintain consistent sleep schedule (7-9 hours, within 1-hour variation) for 8 weeks.
Interventions:
- Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy (IPSRT)
- Psychoeducation on bipolar disorder and medications
- Family-Focused Therapy (FFT) - monthly family sessions
- Relapse prevention and early warning sign identification
- Coordination with psychiatrist for mood stabilizer management
Evidence-Based Interventions Quick Reference
Depression & Anxiety
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Behavioral Activation (BA)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
- Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)
Trauma & PTSD
- Prolonged Exposure (PE)
- EMDR
- Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
- Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT)
- Narrative Exposure Therapy
Substance Use
- Motivational Interviewing (MI)
- Contingency Management
- 12-Step Facilitation
- Relapse Prevention Therapy
- Community Reinforcement Approach
Personality & Emotional Regulation
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Schema Therapy
- Mentalization-Based Treatment (MBT)
- Transference-Focused Psychotherapy
Blank Treatment Plan Template
MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT PLAN Client Name: _______________________ Date of Birth: _____________________ Date of Plan: ______________________ Review Date: _______________________ PRIMARY DIAGNOSIS: DSM-5-TR Code: _____________________ Diagnosis: _________________________ SECONDARY DIAGNOSES: 1. ________________________________ 2. ________________________________ PRESENTING PROBLEMS (Client's Words): ___________________________________ ___________________________________ TREATMENT GOAL 1: Target: ____________________________ Baseline: __________________________ Target: ____________________________ Timeframe: _________________________ Objective 1.1: ___________________ Objective 1.2: ___________________ Objective 1.3: ___________________ TREATMENT GOAL 2: Target: ____________________________ Baseline: __________________________ Target: ____________________________ Timeframe: _________________________ Objective 2.1: ___________________ Objective 2.2: ___________________ INTERVENTIONS: 1. ________________________________ 2. ________________________________ 3. ________________________________ 4. ________________________________ SESSION FREQUENCY: _________________ ESTIMATED DURATION: ________________ CRISIS PLAN: Warning signs: _____________________ Coping strategies: _________________ Emergency contacts: ________________ DISCHARGE CRITERIA: ___________________________________ ___________________________________ Client Signature: ___________________ Clinician Signature: ________________ Date: ______________________________
Frequently Asked Questions
What should be included in a mental health treatment plan?
A comprehensive mental health treatment plan should include: presenting problems and diagnoses, measurable treatment goals using SMART criteria, specific interventions and modalities, estimated timeline for each goal, frequency of sessions, progress indicators, crisis plan, and discharge criteria.
How do you write SMART goals for mental health treatment?
SMART goals for mental health are: Specific (clear target behavior), Measurable (quantifiable outcomes like "reduce panic attacks from 5 to 2 per week"), Achievable (realistic given client's situation), Relevant (aligned with client's priorities), and Time-bound (specific timeframe like "within 8 weeks").
How often should treatment plans be updated?
Treatment plans should be reviewed and updated at least every 90 days, or sooner if there are significant changes in symptoms, functioning, or circumstances. Many insurance payers require updates every 30-90 days for continued authorization.
What are evidence-based interventions for mental health treatment plans?
Evidence-based interventions include: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), EMDR for trauma, Motivational Interviewing, Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and medication management in coordination with prescribers.
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