Thinking about goals in January and beyond: How can a clinical psychologist or therapist help?

“A New Year, a new YOU”.  We often hear this in January.  Whether it’s signing up for the gym or shopping in the sales.  We often have high hopes in January about what we are going to achieve. Yet we know that being consistent with the goals we set beyond January can be a challenge.

The New Year can be a reminder to check in with yourself. To consider whether you are living your life in a way which is consistent with your values and what’s important to YOU.  Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a therapy involves setting goals and actions consistent with your values, which is key if they are going to be maintained over time.  Values and priorities can change and some remain the same.  YOU are the still YOU but there might be shifts in what’s important from one year to the next.  It’s not always easy to identify values, you could ask yourself if you live until 100 years old how would you like to be remembered?

When you meet with a clinical psychologist or therapist you might talk about your goals during the assessment.  This might include short term and longer term goals.  This can give the therapy a focus and be a way of seeing results through what has changed.  Quite often the barriers that are getting in the way of important goals and living the life you would like are the very issues people come to therapy for such as anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD.  Thinking about SMART goals can also be helpful. Making your goals specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound all mean it is more likely you will achieve them. 

What’s important for you in 2023?  Are there any barriers getting that a clinical psychologist can help with?  If so, contact Dr Emma today to arrange a free consultation to discuss whether psychological therapy might be helpful.