Reach New Year Goals with CBT

If you struggle to reach goals, you are definitely not alone. In fact, 92% of the population have a hard time sticking to goals. The resulting problem is that this repetitive cycle of trying to set beneficial life or health goals, but never quite reaching them, can ultimately lead to depression.

This is likely because reaching goals is empowering and helps us feel we are in charge of our life. When we don’t reach goals, we feel unaccomplished, powerless, and maybe even hopeless that our lives can change for the better!

Coaching and counseling can help with this. Just as you must follow a recipe to the proverbial “T” to end up with something edible, there is a formula that must be followed to the “T” to set reachable goals. This formula is often used in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help individuals set and reach goals that will help them change behaviors and better their lives.

Goal setting has actually been shown to be a useful tool for those suffering from depression according to a study published in the journal PLOS ONE. The study found that individuals suffering from depression had more trouble setting goals and were far less likely to believe they could reach them.  The participants also tended to set avoidance goals rather than approach goals.

An avoidance goal is one you set to avoid a negative outcome. “I want to lose weight so I don’t develop type 2 diabetes.” An approach goal, on the other hand, is one that you set to ensure a positive outcome. “I want to lose weight to have more energy!”

The study shows that coaching and counseling by a provider that is trained in CBT can help people with depression set and achieve realistic and achievable goals as well as help them stay on track mentally in pursuit of that goal and offer some healthy accountability.

When setting goals, keep in mind the following key points:

  • Identify your goal.
  • Choose a starting point.
  • Identify the steps required to achieve the goal.
  • Take that first step and get started.

A trained CBT provider can help you with each one of these steps. From ensuring you select realistic goals that are approach goals, to helping you identify where you are in relation to your goal, breaking down the goal into smaller, actionable steps, and helping you take that very first one, a counselor or coach will be in your corner, helping you every step of the way.

Make 2021 the year you reach those goals that will help you live your best life. If you’d like some help getting there, please get in touch with me. I’d be more than happy to discuss how I may be able to help.

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