A structured template for presenting a case formulation in supervision. Covers case overview, presenting problems, provisional formulation (4 Ps), treatment plan, and specific supervision questions.
Case Formulation Discussion Template
PreviewBrief demographic and referral information. Use case codes only.
Case code
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Age range
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Gender
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Referral reason (1–2 sentences)
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Sessions completed
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Main presenting problems and current symptom picture
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Relevant outcome measure scores (if available)
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Use the 4 Ps framework or your preferred formulation model.
Predisposing factors — early experiences, vulnerabilities, developmental history
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Precipitating factors — what triggered the current difficulties
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Perpetuating factors — what maintains the current difficulties (cognitions, behaviours, avoidance, safety behaviours)
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Protective factors — strengths, resources, resilience factors
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Current treatment plan and interventions being used
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Progress so far — what has worked and what has not
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Specific questions or dilemmas I want to discuss with my supervisor
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What kind of help would be most useful? (e.g. alternative formulation, technique suggestions, emotional support, normalisation)
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For the supervisor to complete during or after the discussion.
Supervisor feedback and recommendations
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Agreed next steps
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This is a read-only preview. Sign up to assign it and let clients complete it on any device.
The Case Formulation Discussion Template is a cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) supervision and reflective-practice resource, designed to support therapists and trainees in developing their clinical skills rather than as a client-facing worksheet.
You can preview it in full above, then use it within your own practice, supervision or training — completing it on any device or printing it as a PDF.
Most people work through it in around 20 minutes. It moves through six short steps:
Every resource in the library shares the same clean, consistent layout, works on any phone, tablet or computer, and can be completed on screen or exported as a print-ready PDF.
In common with other CBT methods, the Case Formulation Discussion Template works by mapping how the parts of a problem connect and keep it going (formulation). The aim is not positive thinking but a clearer, shared understanding of what keeps a difficulty going — and practical, testable ways to change it.
Like the rest of the Formulate library it follows an evidence-based CBT structure, applied here to building and reflecting on clinical skill rather than to a specific presenting problem.
This worksheet is grounded in established cognitive behavioural therapy theory and practice. Key sources include:
Formulate provides educational CBT resources for use with a qualified therapist. They are not a substitute for professional assessment, diagnosis, or crisis care.
If you need urgent help now:
Sign up free and send your client a link. They complete it on any device — you review their responses before the next session.
No credit card required. 10 free worksheets every month.
Self-rate your CBT competencies using the Cognitive Therapy Scale — Revised (CTS-R) framework. Designed for supervisees to reflect on their own session performance before supervision.