Why activity scheduling during treatment? - Chapter 7

This chapter will discuss activity scheduling and why it is important.

For depressed clients, one of the most important thing to do is to schedule activities. A lot of clients with depression have withdrawn from and are actively avoiding at least some activities that had previously given them a sense of achievement, control, pleasure or connection. Most of them also stop following their daily routine and do less self-care.

Helping clients to become more active and giving themselves credit for their efforts are essential parts of the treatment, because clients often believe they can not change how they feel. If a therapist does this, it improves the mood of the client and it strengthens their sense of self-efficacy.

The depressed automatic thoughts of clients frequently get in the way when they are considering engaging in activities. The inactivity contributes to a low mood and this leads to more negative thinking. They get stuck in a vicious cycle. Becoming more active will usually help to break this cycle.

It is important to keep an eye out for negative thoughts after engaging in an activity and to anticipate this. Many clients have negative thoughts after an activity and this interferes with a client's continuation of activities. Besides, these thoughts could diminish the sense of pleasure, achievement, or connection during or after the activity.

Some people will do the activities discussed during a session without discussing precisely when to do them. Others benefit from committing to do certain activities on certain days at certain times. Make sure that a schedule is on the easy side, especially when they are severly depressed. Clients may need to schedule periods of relative inactivity interspersed with activities that require more effort.

If the therapist does not know which activities to suggests to clients, he/she can review a typical day. Then ask themselves the following questions:

• What does the client do too much off?
• And what does the client too little off or is the client avoiding?
• Is the balance good between mastery, pleasure, self-care and social experiences?
• What can be done to lead to positive emotion, connection and empowerment?
• What can be done for the client for him/her to draw positive conclusions?