Friendly Formulation
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Offers theory, guidance, and prompts for mental health professionals. Downloads are in Fillable PDF format where appropriate.
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Includes client-friendly guidance. Downloads are in Fillable PDF format where appropriate.
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Introduction & Theoretical Background
A case formulation (case conceptualisation) can be thought of as any way of helping a client to understand what their difficulties are, where they originated, and what keeps them going. CBT case formulations often have 5 ingredients:
- Presenting problem(s)
- Predisposing factors which made the individual vulnerable to the problem
- Precipitating factors which triggered the problem
- Perpetuating factors such as mechanisms which keep a problem going or unintended consequences of an attempt to cope with the problem
- Protective factors
This Friendly Formulation diagram presents all of the these 5 p's in an accessible way, framed by the question "How did the problem develop?".
Therapist Guidance
This is a Psychology Tools case formulation (case conceptualization) diagram. Put simply, case formulation is one method of a client and therapist coming to shared understanding of a difficulty. The formulation contextualizes the difficulty, making its origin and maintenance understandable. Case formulations are best completed collaboratively, with clients positioned as the 'experts in themselves'.
References And Further Reading
- Eells, T. D. (Ed.). (2011). Handbook of psychotherapy case formulation. Guilford Press.
- Johnstone, L., & Dallos, R. (2013). Formulation in psychology and psychotherapy: Making sense of people's problems. Routledge.
- Kuyken, W., Padesky, C. A., & Dudley, R. (2008). Collaborative case conceptualization: Working effectively with clients in cognitive-behavioral therapy. Guilford Press.
- Persons, J. B. (2012). The case formulation approach to cognitive-behavior therapy. Guilford Press.
- Tarrier, N., & Johnson, J. (Eds.). (2015). Case formulation in cognitive behaviour therapy: The treatment of challenging and complex cases. Routledge.