Therapy homework assignments

Also homework. Some clients may do well with different assignments each week, while others may have harder times with certain types of homework. For example: An artistic client may not get much from written exercises. They might, however, prefer to sketch or otherwise illustrate their mood, feelings, or reactions during the week.

If you plan to assign educational materials, ask in your first session whether your client prefers audio or written media. When you give the assignment, take a few minutes to go over it with your client. Give an example of how to complete it and make sure they understand the process. You’ll also want to explain the purpose of the assignment.

Between-session activities have now been proposed by some theorists to be a common factor in the success of all brief therapies. By using the intervals between sessions, homework assignments increase the time clients spend engaging in activities designed to speed their recovery.

Clients doing home tasks can acquire insight and skills, and are more likely to view themselves as change agents rather than as passive recipients of therapy. Many counselors and therapists assess homework compliance in evaluating both treatment progress and the strength of the working alliance.