Problem statement, problem list and goals
Describe one problem clearly, list your problems in order of priority, and turn the first ones into goals you can check.
Written by Tarun Vermani, Trainee Clinical Psychologist Last reviewed
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Problem statement, problem list and goals
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Problems and goals on one page
Based on Persons (2008), who begins therapy with a problem list and sets goals from it, and on the descriptive stage of Kuyken, Padesky & Dudley (2009). This is a one-page version of that approach.
This sheet helps you and your therapist agree what to work on first. Fill it in together, in your own words. You can change it as you both learn more.
You choose how much to share. You can leave any box blank or come back to it later.
If going over this brings back urges to hurt yourself, stop and use your safety plan if you have one, and tell your therapist. If you might act on the urges, call 999 or go to A&E. To talk to someone now, call Samaritans free on 116 123.
One problem in detail
Pick the problem that bothers you most right now. Describe it as it happens, in the five parts below.
My problem list
List up to six problems. Rate how much each affects you, where 0 is not at all and 10 is as much as it could. Then number them in the order you would like to tackle them, with 1 for the first. Keep the list in that order. Your therapist may suggest a different order, and you decide together.
| # | Problem | How much it affects me (0 to 10) | Order to work on (1 = first) | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Goals linked to problems
Turn the top problems into goals. A goal says what you want to be doing, doing differently or feeling, and how you would notice it. In the first column, write the order number you gave the problem in your list. Aim for something you can check, such as how often, how long or how much. If your confidence is below 6, make the goal smaller.
| # | For problem (its order number) | My goal | How I will know I have got there | By when | Confidence (0 to 10) | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Agreeing it together
Safety and support
No one checks this sheet for urgent messages. If you have thoughts of harming yourself or feel unable to stay safe, contact your therapist, GP or urgent-care service now rather than writing it here. In an emergency, call 999. For urgent mental health help, call NHS 111 and choose the mental health option (in Northern Ireland, call Lifeline on 0808 808 8000). For emotional support, call Samaritans free, day or night, on 116 123. This sheet supports your therapy. It is not a crisis service and does not replace professional care.
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When to use ‘Problem statement, problem list and goals’
‘Problem statement, problem list and goals’ is an interactive cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) worksheet. As a core CBT skill it is used right across the model, with presentations including depression, anxiety, OCD, trauma and low self-esteem, rather than being tied to a single diagnosis.
It is designed to be used within therapy rather than as a standalone self-help tool: a therapist introduces it, works through it collaboratively, and helps make sense of what it surfaces. You can preview the full worksheet above, then assign it digitally for clients to complete between sessions on any device or download it as a print-ready PDF.
How it works
Most people work through it in around 25 minutes. It moves through six short steps:
- Problems and goals on one page: Based on Persons (2008), who begins therapy with a problem list and sets goals from it, and on the descriptive stage of Kuyken, Padesky &…
- One problem in detail: Pick the problem that bothers you most right now. Describe it as it happens, in the five parts below.
- My problem list: List up to six problems. Rate how much each affects you, where 0 is not at all and 10 is as much as it could. Then number them in the order…
- Goals linked to problems: Turn the top problems into goals. A goal says what you want to be doing, doing differently or feeling, and how you would notice it. In the…
- Agreeing it together
- Safety and support: No one checks this sheet for urgent messages. If you have thoughts of harming yourself or feel unable to stay safe, contact your therapist,…
Completed on the Formulate platform, your client's answers are saved automatically and shared straight back to you, so you can review them before the next session rather than waiting for a paper copy to come back.
The CBT approach behind it
In common with other CBT methods, ‘Problem statement, problem list and goals’ 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.
Because it is a CBT tool it stays focused on the here-and-now links between thoughts, feelings, the body and behaviour, and it works best as one part of a wider course of therapy rather than as advice or a diagnosis.
Evidence & sources
This worksheet is grounded in established cognitive behavioural therapy theory and practice. Key sources include:
- Persons, J.B. (2008). The case formulation approach to cognitive-behavior therapy. Guilford Press.
- Kuyken, W., Padesky, C.A., & Dudley, R. (2009). Collaborative case conceptualization: Working effectively with clients in cognitive-behavioral therapy. Guilford Press.
- Doran, G.T. (1981). There's a S.M.A.R.T. way to write management's goals and objectives. Management Review, 70(11), 35-36.
For use alongside professional support
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:
- Emergency services: 999 — if you or someone else is in immediate danger
- NHS 111 (NHS 24 in Scotland): 111 — choose the mental health option for urgent help, in England, Scotland and Wales (in Wales, press 2)
- Lifeline: 0808 808 8000 — for urgent help in Northern Ireland, free, day or night
- Samaritans: 116 123 — free, day or night, 365 days a year
- Shout: 85258 — text SHOUT, free, day or night
- SANEline: 0300 304 7000 — 4pm–10pm, every day
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