GOALS, STAGES,

TARGETS,
AND TARGET
PRIORITIES
BEHAVIORAL TREATMENT
CHECKLIST FOR
INDIVIDUALS WITH
EMOTIONAL
DYSREGULATION
AFTER REVIEWING THE STANDARD
According to Swenson (2016) During the PRIORITY TEMPLATE THE THERAPIST
early sessions, the therapist and patient work DOES THE FOLLOWING
together to create a personalized list that will
form the foundation for the treatment. This list
is tailored to meet the specific requirements
of the individual patient.
Dialectical behavioral therapy plays a crucial As it was pointed out by Swenson (2016)
role in enabling therapists to organize 1. Transitioning from patient assessment to
treatment in a way that is productive. working collaboratively to develop a list of
treatment priorities.
2. Establishing an agenda that aligns with the list of
priorities.
3. Creating structure for non-individual therapy
methods and utilizing the target priority list as a
guide.
4. Using the list as a template to structure and
DBT TARGET PRIORITY LIST maintain a viable and comprehensive DBT
TEMPLATE program.
DIALECTICAL ANALYSES 5. Prioritizing the list for the purpose of structuring
and maintaining a comprehensive and viable
DIALECTICAL LIFESTYLE (“MIDDLE PATH”)
DBT program.
TARGET: INCREASE COMMITMENT TO
TREATMENT PLAN.

Target 2: Decrease
Objective 1: Decrease therapy-interfering
suicidal behaviors such as: behaviors of the patient
aggressive acts, suicidal Example, Non-assistance,
ideation, self-injurious acts. non-collaboration,
overstepping therapist's
boundaries.

Target 3: Decrease quality-

of-life-interfering behaviors Target 4: Increase behavioral

Substance abuse, skills. Distress tolerance skills,
unprotected sexual emotional regulation, self-
relations
management skills

Target 5: Reduce quiet Linehan as cited in Swenson

desperation. Reduce (2016) emphasizes that DBT is
residual psychiatric organized around a priority
disorders (mood disorders, template. This template offers
anxiety disorders, therapists the necessary level of
impulse control disorders, detail and structure to create a
etc.). (Swenson, 2016, list of treatment goals
p.131) collaboratively with the patient
and establish an agenda for

"TREATMENT HOUSE" each session.

METAPHOR
Swenson (2016) claimed that
The House of Treatment has
demonstrated its usefulness for
therapists and patients, as well
as for visualizing the entire
process of treatment from start
to finish.
Metaphors enable patients to reflect on
issues that are causing them distress.
The therapist plays a crucial role in this
process by presenting a narrative or
story that the patient can relate to,
ideally leading them to identify with the
metaphor and find solutions to their
problems.

Reference
Swenson, C. R. (2016). DBT principles in action: Acceptance, change, and dialectics. Guilford Publications.