Divorce can contribute to a range of challenges, including social difficulties, physical health concerns, and mental health difficulties. Research has shown that the prevalence of depression during midlife in the U.S. is significantly higher among adults who are separated or divorced. They can also experience anxiety and depression as they adjust to this major life change. Keep reading to learn how to create a counseling treatment plan for divorce with step-by-step guidance, including setting goals, choosing interventions, and supporting clients through emotional healing and adjustment.
Mental health struggles can contribute to the challenges within a relationship that lead to divorce. As an example, substance use disorders, personality disorders, PTSD, OCD, and bipolar disorder can create difficulties for individuals and their partners in maintaining healthy boundaries, respect, and trust. In some cases, this can lead to a divorce.
About half of all marriages in the United States end in divorce, with over 40% of first-time marriages ending in divorce. Rates of divorce are higher in subsequent marriages. The U.S. has the fourth-highest divorce rate. There has been a shift regarding the perception of divorce around the world, with it now being less taboo or stigmatized.
Individuals who are experiencing mild to moderate psychological distress caused by a divorce or seperation may benefit from outpatient care, whereas moderate to severe symptoms may require intensive inpatient care. Treatment can focus on learning to manage symptoms that are related to your client’s divorce, whether they existed before or after their divorce.
Setting Goals and Objectives With Clients in Your Treatment Plan for Divorce
After you have completed a comprehensive psychological assessment, you can begin developing your treatment plan for divorce. You may find yourself focusing on depressive symptoms, anxiety, loneliness, shame, or anger. Treatment can include individual or group therapy, depending on your client’s goals and symptoms.
Several therapeutic approaches can be used with clients who are struggling after a divorce. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based approach that can address negative thought patterns that contribute to shame, anxiety, depression, and self-blame. This approach can help clients adjust to the changes they have experienced since their separation or divorce.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an approach that can be helpful for those who are struggling with intense emotional reactions, anger, and abandonment concerns after a divorce or separation. Key components of DBT that can be impactful include learning emotion regulation and distress tolerance skills, which can help manage these challenges. Interpersonal effectiveness skills are another focus that can help improve the health of relationships.
Other commonly used therapeutic approaches include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), and trauma-focused therapy when the divorce involved abuse, trauma, or high levels of conflict.
Clinicians have found that including worksheets in sessions reinforces topics discussed and provides clients with a tangible resource that they can reference outside of the session. TherapyByPro offers a diverse range of worksheets tailored to various mental health concerns and therapeutic approaches. As a premier resource for mental health professionals, they are highly regarded for their customizable worksheets. Examples of worksheets that can be incorporated into a treatment plan for grief over divorce include:
What to Include in a Treatment Plan for Divorce
When developing your treatment plan for divorce, it is essential to conduct a comprehensive assessment that considers the whole person, not just their current relationship circumstances. This can include other relationships in their life, previous relationships, career satisfaction, previous mental health concerns, substance use, social supports, and hobbies or other interests.
This information can help you create a personalized treatment plan that goes beyond the focus of your client’s divorce. Treatment plan reviews can provide you with an opportunity to adjust your treatment plan to reflect your clients’ successes and challenges. For the remainder of our time, we will be focusing on creating a treatment plan for divorce that uses the Treatment Plan Template available with TherapyByPro.
Example for John:
John is a 36-year-old male who scheduled an individual therapy session in your outpatient practice. On his initial paperwork, he identified himself as single and noted that he and his partner had been divorced for five months. John noted feelings of isolation, loneliness, anger, and grief since his divorce. He has no children at this time and was married to his wife for 11 years.
John works full-time at a law firm and noted that he has a predictable schedule and routine regarding his workday. He has found it more challenging to focus at work and has had to allocate additional time to his cases. He explained that since his divorce, he had not spent time with his friends, noting that he and his ex had shared friends, and he is concerned about creating unnecessary tension. John shared that his wife initiated the divorce, noting that she had been unhappy in her marriage and felt disconnected from John.
John reported a history of depressive symptoms, including fatigue, loss of interest in pleasurable activities, isolation, decreased appetite and weight, depressed mood, and poor concentration. He began noticing these symptoms after the unexpected death of his brother almost two years ago. John noted that he believes his depression contributed to the distance within his marriage and feels responsible for his divorce. He has no history of mental health treatment and denied all suicidal and self-harm concerns.
Agencies Involved and Plans for Care Coordination
This section of your treatment plan should include information related to care coordination. For this case, it would be appropriate for you to refer him to a psychiatrist for an assessment and psychiatric services.
Example for John:
Care Coordination: Refer to Dr. Smith for psychiatric services, (123)456-7890
Clinical Diagnoses
Based on the information provided, John meets DSM-5 criteria for Major Depressive Disorder, moderate. Symptoms that align with an MDD diagnosis include fatigue, loss of interest in pleasurable activities, weight loss, depressed mood, guilt, and poor concentration. His concentration has had a noticeable impact on his work performance, and his other symptoms have contributed to social withdrawal and isolation.
Example for John:
Clinical Diagnosis: Major Depressive Disorder, moderate (F33.1)
Current Medications and Responses
At this time, John is not taking medications to address his mental health symptoms. You can adjust this section as needed after he meets with Dr. Smith for psychiatric services.
Example for John:
Medications: None at this time
Presenting Problem and Related Symptoms
The presenting problem section of your treatment plan for divorce should lay the foundation for the goals and objectives noted in later sections. You should include details regarding their diagnosis, symptoms, risks, and other relevant information.
Example for John:
John is a single 36-year-old male. He presented with concerns of persistent depressed mood, diminished motivation, and loss of interest. John endorsed feelings of low self-worth, hopelessness, and social withdrawal. His symptoms have affected his concentration at work and his social life. He denied current and past suicidal concerns.
John noted that he began feeling depressed two years ago when his brother unexpectedly died in an accident. Since then, he struggled to cope with his grief and began experiencing symptoms previously noted. John indicated that he feels responsible for the breakdown in his marriage that led to his wife leaving him. He explained that he was unable to provide her with the emotional connection she needed and pulled away from her after his brother’s death.
John denied a history of mental health concerns and presented as motivated for treatment. He identified his parents and sister as a support system and reported being happy with his career as a lawyer.
Goals and Objectives
The goals and objectives area of your treatment plan should include specific and measurable goals that your client can work towards. Goals should be reviewed with your client to ensure that you’re on the same page regarding the direction of your therapy sessions. As your client makes progress, you can make changes to this section during treatment plan reviews.
Example for John:
GOAL 1: Reduce depressive symptoms and improve mood
Objective 1: Identify three negative automatic thoughts per week and replace them with healthier alternatives
Objective 2: Identify and engage in one pleasurable activity per week
Objective 3: Track mood using a journal, noting triggers, patterns, and progress
GOAL 2: Develop emotion regulation skills
Objective 1: Learn about distress tolerance skills and choose two to use twice per week
Objective 2: Identify three emotional triggers
Objective 3: Use emotion regulation skills at least three times per week for known triggers
GOAL 3: Rebuild healthy connections and improve interpersonal effectiveness
Objective 1: Learn about interpersonal effectiveness skills and choose one to role-play in the session
Objective 2: Identify three previous relationship patterns that could be improved
Objective 3: Engage in one social activity per week to review in the following session
Specific Interventions to Be Used
You will now make a note of specific interventions that can be used to support your client as they work towards their goals. This should include the use of evidence-based therapy that has been proven to effectively treat the presenting problem or diagnosis. Similar to other sections of your treatment plan for divorce, you can edit this section during treatment plan reviews.
Example for John:
Intervention: Thought records
Responsible Person: John
Intervention: Behavioral activation
Responsible Person: John
Intervention: Keeping a mood journal
Responsible Person: John
Intervention: Teaching DBT distress tolerance skills
Responsible Person: Therapist
Intervention: Relationship mapping to identify unhealthy relationship patterns
Responsible Person: Therapist and John
Family Involvement
Based on the information provided, it does not appear that including family in John’s treatment would be appropriate. Should this change, you can modify your treatment plan to reflect the necessary changes.
Example for John:
Family Involvement: None
Additional Services and Interventions
In addition to a referral for psychiatric care, you can review options for supportive services with John. This can include local support groups for depression or divorce and holistic services like mindfulness workshops. Additional services should build upon your work in individual sessions, rather than replacing it.
Example for John:
Additional Services: Provide referral for divorce support group and local mindfulness workshops
Estimation for Completion
Outpatient treatment can range in frequency and duration based on a client’s symptoms and level of impairment. For John’s case, he can make significant growth in three months of weekly individual therapy. If you find that this time frame needs to be extended or shortened, you can update your treatment plan accordingly.
Example for John:
Estimated time for Completion: Three months of weekly individual therapy sessions
Aftercare Plans
The aftercare section of your treatment plan should be written as if John were to end therapy today. This helps ensure that you’re prepared for unexpected or early terminations. These can occur for various reasons, including scheduling conflicts and changes in his motivation for treatment. As you review your treatment plans, update this section as needed.
Example for John:
Aftercare Plans: Meet with Primary Care Physician for referral for outpatient treatment. Continue meeting with Dr. Smith for psychiatric services
Final Thoughts On Creating a Treatment Plan for Divorce
Therapy can be a helpful tool for individuals navigating the changes they experience after a divorce. This provides them with an opportunity to rebuild and heal. A divorce can shake a person’s identity, routine, finances, and sense of security in life. You can help them navigate the emotional challenges that divorce can bring and assist them in creating a fulfilling life after their divorce.
You learn more about working with clients who are adjusting to a divorce or separation by exploring nearby training and continuing education opportunities. Ensure that the education provider you use is accredited and recognized within your professional niche.
TherapyByPro is a trusted resource for mental health professionals worldwide. Our therapy tools are designed with one mission in mind: to save you time and help you focus on what truly matters-your clients. Every worksheet, counseling script, and therapy poster in our shop is professionally crafted to simplify your workflow, enhance your sessions, reduce stress, and most of all, help your clients.
Want to reach more clients? We can help! TherapyByPro is also a therapist directory designed to help you reach new clients, highlight your expertise, and make a meaningful impact in the lives of others.
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