How will I know therapy is working?

Clients can monitor their progression toward their goals by assessing their mood throughout the week and recording if there is gradual improvement. Parents and clients can help record specific symptoms or problematic behaviors to look for improvement. They can also record if they are solving problems and working toward their goals.  One of my primary goals when working with my clients is getting them to a place where they do not need me anymore. It is not my goal to keep a client reliant and dependent on me to help them navigate the ups and downs of life forever. I want them to use the skills they gained in therapy to move on and become successful on their own. Of course, I realize there may be times when the need to come back to therapy either from experiencing a traumatic event or a reoccurrence of a mental health disorder, but at some point, with the exception of severe mental illnesses, therapy should end. There are many reasons for this to happen. A client can terminate at any time for any reason, but ideally it should be when the client has met their treatment goals or at least made sufficient progress.

Studies have shown that with AAI can be just as successful as traditional therapeutic approaches. I believe that the addition of AAI may work more successfully than traditional therapy when the client is more predisposed to developing and forming bonds with animals and when animals may be used as a motivator. Clients of UBU Therapy will establish goals as the therapist works to form a treatment plan that will best serve their individual needs. Goals could be building stronger relationships with others, increased responsibility, compassion or accountability, as well as increased confidence and self-esteem.