Goal-Based Outcomes

What are goal-based outcomes?

Goal-based outcomes are a way of measuring progress in therapy by tracking the client's own goals rather than relying solely on standardised measures. The approach, developed by Professor Duncan Law, is grounded in a growing body of evidence that working with goals in counselling and psychotherapy supports positive therapeutic change.

Why use goal-based outcomes?

"Recent evidence suggests that working with goals in counselling and psychotherapy can support positive therapeutic change. Goals can empower clients and give them hope: helping them feel that they have the capacity to act towards achieving their desired futures. Goals can help focus, and direct, clients' and therapists' attention, building a better therapeutic alliance."

How GBOs work in SolveFit Tracker

In SolveFit Tracker, goal-based outcomes are implemented through the Goals feature. Clients articulate their goals in their own words and score where they currently are on a scale from 0 (not at all met) to 10 (fully reached), with an anchor point at 5 (halfway).

Each goal becomes an item in a client-specific 'Goals' measure that can be tracked at any session, displayed on the progress chart alongside other measures, and reviewed in the client summary.

Key principles

• Goals are identified and articulated by the client — not the practitioner
• Goal labels and details should always use the client's own words, written in the first person
• Goals can be added, deactivated, or modified as the client's priorities change
• Individual goals and the aggregated goal score can both be tracked on the chart
• GBO data is included in the client summary export for reporting purposes

Viewing goals on the chart

Goals are displayed on the progress chart just like any other measure. You can view the aggregated goal score, individual goal lines, or any combination — giving maximum flexibility for discussing progress with your client.