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Harold Treatment Plan
Scottie E. Hutchens
Department of Allied Health Studies, Stephen F. Austin State University
PCOU 5333: Counseling Skills and Techniques
Dr. Brian Hicks
April 12, 2026
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Harold Treatment Plan
Client Information
Client Name: ​ Harold
DOB / Age: ​ 2/19/1958, 68 years old
Counselor:​
Scottie Hutchens
Supervisor:​
Dr. Brian Hicks
Date Created:​4/1/2026 (to be reviewed in eight weeks, or 5/27/2026)
Case ID #:​
0087
Presenting Concerns
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Harold is experiencing a lack of direction and meaning in life following his retirement.
He is also struggling to identify and actualize his roles/responsibilities to his household
following retirement. Harold also is experiencing communication and relational problems with
his wife, as he feels she is nagging at him when he “oversteps” his role and often does not
understand what he is trying to convey.
Relevant History & Context
​
Harold has recently retired from his job, which gave him a strong sense of purpose and
worth (financially supporting family). He lives at home with his wife, who is active in the
community, and is experiencing communication issues with her. Harold has children, but is not
particularly close with them. Harold may be experiencing minor anhedonia, but this may be
better explained by his lack of purpose and meaning following retirement.
Treatment Plan
Problem One
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Harold is struggling to find meaning in his life and has not yet established a healthy and
purposeful structure following retirement.
Goal One
Harold wants to find a sense of purpose and meaning and to establish structure following
retirement.
​
Objective One. Over the next eight weeks, Harold will increase his sense of purpose in
life from baseline (no meaning) to moderate (some idea of meaning, integration of purpose). This
will be measured by self-report, assessments, and counselor observations.
Intervention One. Individual counseling utilizing existential therapy to explore and
establish meaning of life and purpose (weekly for eight weeks).
Intervention Two. Harold will participate in at least one community activity, volunteer
activity, or enjoyable hobby/activity each week to promote engagement in meaningful roles and
increase sense of purpose (weekly for eight weeks).
Objective Two. Over the next eight weeks, Harold will establish meaningful
roles/responsibilities and structure in his day-to-day life, measured by client self-report, activity
tracking, and counselor observation.
​
Intervention One. Throughout the counseling process, Harold will work to develop and
re-assess a structured daily and weekly routine that includes scheduled activities and
responsibilities to promote consistency and stability in the household (initially developed in
counseling with out-of-session daily implementation/practice; reviewed weekly for eight weeks).
Intervention Two. During individual counseling, Harold will identify and explore areas
of interest and potential roles to incorporate into his routine and support long-term structure
(weekly for eight weeks).
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Problem Two
Harold has problems with communicating effectively with his wife and children, with
them often misunderstanding him or discrediting his efforts.
Goal Two
Harold wants to increase effective communication with his wife and family so that he can
effectively get his feelings across and feel seen, appreciated, and understood.
​
Objective One. Over the next eight weeks, Harold will demonstrate use of effective
communication skills in interactions with his wife and family at least two times per week, as
measured by self-report, partner feedback, and counselor observation.
​
Intervention One. During individual counseling, Harold will learn and practice effective
communication skills, including “I” statements, active listening, and assertive expression of
emotions (weekly for eight weeks).
Intervention Two. During counseling sessions, Harold will engage in role-playing
exercises to practice communication skills in simulated interactions with his wife and others,
with feedback provided by the counselor to improve clarity and effectiveness (weekly for eight
weeks).
Objective Two. Over the next eight weeks, Harold will utilize emotional regulation
strategies during family interactions and report an increase in feeling understood and validated
from baseline (rarely feels understood) to moderate (sometimes feels understood), as measured
by self-report and counselor observation.
​
Intervention One. During counseling sessions, Harold will learn and practice emotional
regulation techniques (deep breathing, grounding, mindfulness, etc.) to reduce frustration and
improve ability to communicate effectively (weekly for eight weeks).
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Intervention Two. Harold will implement emotional regulation strategies prior to and
during at least two family interactions per week and process these experiences in counseling
sessions to reinforce effective use and improve communication outcomes (twice weekly practice;
reviewed weekly for eight weeks).
Modalities & Treatment Approaches
Existential therapy will be used to help Harold navigate concerns related to loss of
direction, meaning, and adjustment to retirement, with a focus on exploring purpose, values, and
identity. A person-centered approach will also be incorporated to foster a strong therapeutic
alliance through empathy, genuineness, and unconditional positive regard.
Cognitive-behavioral and skills-based interventions will be used to support development
of effective communication skills and emotional regulation strategies, including role-playing,
behavioral rehearsal, and structured skill practice. Mindfulness-based techniques will also be
incorporated to enhance emotional regulation and reduce frustration during interpersonal
interaction. Additionally behavioral activation and structured activity planning will be
implemented to help Harold establish routine, engage in meaningful activities, and develop
consistent roles and responsibilities.
Client Strengths & Resources
Harold shows insight into current challenges and expresses a clear desire to improve his
sense of purpose and communication with his family. He also has access to family relationships
and the ability to engage in mental health support through counseling.
Risk & Safety Assessment
Current Risk Level
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Harold does have some suicide risk factors, including moderate alcohol use, older age,
loss of meaning/purpose in life, and some degree of social isolation. However, Harold denies any
current or past suicide ideation, plans, behaviors, or intent. Additionally, Harold has no history of
suicide attempts or self-harm, reports no access to lethal means, and does not have personal
connection to suicide. He is actively seeking mental health care, is in good health, and
demonstrates protective factors including connection to his wife and strong life skills. Based on
the presence of risk factors alongside multiple protective factors and the absence of suicidal
ideation or behavior, Harold is currently assessed to be at low risk for suicide With these in mind,
Harold is determined to be at moderate risk level for suicide (Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration, 2024).
Safety Plan
Harold was provided with crisis resources, including the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline,
and was encouraged to utilize these services if distress increases between sessions. He will
continue to engage in ongoing individual counseling, with regular reassessment of suicide risk at
each session. Harold will work to identify early warning signs of increased distress and
implement coping strategies learned in session. He will also engage in meaningful and structured
activities to support a sense of purpose and reduce isolation. Additionally, Harold identified his
wife as a primary support person and agreed to reach out to her or other trusted individuals
during times of increased distress. Steps were also discussed to maintain safety, including
seeking immediate help if suicidal thoughts emerge.
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References
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2024). SAFE-T protocol with
C-SSRS: Suicide assessment five-step evaluation and triage (SAFE-T).
https://library.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/safet-flyer-pep24-01-036.pdf