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Once you have had the opportunity to tell your practitioner about your main difficulties and symptoms, they will work with you to collaboratively agree a problem statement. It is a shared understanding of the main symptoms your problem is indicative of. A problem statment helps you to set your goals, provides a focus for any treatment and a baseline to measure progress against. Your practitioner will guide you to create it:
An example with all the relevant elements needed is: What the main problem is (for example feeling down or anxious) What triggers it (what makes you feel that way on a day to day basis) Examples of your physical symptoms, changes in your behaviours and your thinking What consequence or impact the problem is having on your life
My main problem is feeling depressed. This affects me every day, but is worse in the mornings. I feel tired, my appetite is affected and I struggle to concentrate. I have stopped seeing friends, going to work or doing things around the home and I am spending more time in bed. I have thoughts that I am letting my family down and that I can’t be bothered to do anything. As a consequence, I am isolated. I have used up most of my savings so money is tight.
My main problem is...
© Chellingsworth, M (2016-2021). The CBT Resource ®