Treatment plans are documents where the therapist lists the methods, interventions, and ideas that help you achieve your goals. These document contain other information as well, all of which are outlined in a report that follows a full clinical assessment. The “plan” is a point of reference whereby consumers of mental health services and providers of mental health services work together to address the problems that indicate the need for therapy and the indicators of therapy success. In the initial consultation with the practice at TalkifUwant, LaRose will being the treatment planning document almost immediately. And rather unique to talk therapy practices, LaRose will offer for you to review the treatment plan in a subsequent session so that you can see exactly what LaRose thinks is going on and exactly what can be done to resolve it. Having a treatment plan means there are steps that will follow to clear up your concerns!
The treatment plan is usually customized according to several key areas:
- The overall clinical assessment
- The mental illness diagnosis
- The severity of the illness
- The reasons that the consumer sought services
- The number of sessions needed (and if they will change) to meet the treatment goals
Not all providers prepare formal treatment plans. The cost of such reports can be relatively high (ranging from $250 to $1,500 or more). With LaRose, the treatment plan is included at no extra cost! Plus, you can request a copy of the treatment plan and if there are areas you disagree with (and / or mistakes) you can request (and LaRose must document those in the treatment plan as well) that changes be made.
Treatment plans are useful, in all scenarios when working with talk therapy (online, onsite, and in the office) particularly with severe and complex cases. The document can be very helpful too when multiple treatment providers will work together , and in cases where there may be legal reasons to record the assessment and treatment methods. Because LaRose uses a digital HIPAA compliant secure server (with a full client portal accessible by you 24 hours a day) records generation can be done almost immediately!
Lastly, it is helpful for a written assessment and treatment plan to be completed, because consumers of mental health services may want to know what kinds of methods are being utilized to assist them in treating their particular problem and to ask when and how certain interventions will begin and/or occur. Such an awareness is not only a good idea, but in most states/jurisdictions, it is your legal right.
For more information, please also see the published “Assessment, Diagnosis and Treatment” article.