Cost-Benefit Analysis

When to Use

Use when the client is ambivalent about changing a behaviour, belief, or coping strategy that maintains their depression. Particularly effective for examining the function of avoidance, rumination, or safety behaviours. Also useful when the client intellectually understands the need for change but struggles to commit.

How to Introduce

Frame as a balanced exploration: 'Before we decide whether to change this pattern, let's look at the full picture. What does this behaviour give you, and what does it cost you? There are usually advantages to both sides, and being honest about those helps us make a real choice.'

Adaptations

For clients who minimise costs, gently explore long-term consequences and impact on values. For those who cannot see any benefits to their current pattern, help them consider short-term emotional relief or protection functions. Use both short-term and long-term perspectives for a fuller analysis.

Avoid if the client is in acute crisis where decisive action is needed rather than reflective analysis. Not suitable if the client uses the analysis to justify maintaining harmful behaviours by overweighting short-term benefits.

Clinical Tips

The most clinically useful insights often come from the 'advantages of staying the same' box, as these reveal the function of the maintaining behaviour. Weight the analysis by asking which factors matter most. Revisit the analysis after behavioural experiments to update with new evidence.