What is Life Goals?
Life Goals serves as a skills management intervention that can either be delivered as a stand-alone treatment or as part of the multi-component collaborative care model, Life Goals Collaborative Care (LG-CC).
For more information on Life Goals Training:
What is Life Goals?
Life Goals is an evidence-based, recovery-oriented self-management program for individuals whose lives are challenged by mood disorders. It is based on Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory and incorporates elements of motivational interviewing and cognitive-behavioral therapy, particularly behavioral activation.
A participant and a trained facilitator work through a customized Curriculum made up of Courses based on the participant’s values, life goals, needs, and priorities. Courses are made up of Modules targeting mood symptoms and common co-occurring challenges such as physical wellness, substance use, and hopelessness. Each Curriculum begins with a Module focusing on the participant’s values and goals, and finishes with a Module on managing their clinical care. For further information, watch the three-minute video at www.lifegoalscc.com/overview.
How does Life Goals work?
Life Goals facilitators are clinicians or peer specialists, facilitating Life Goals with participants individually or in group format. Each Curriculum is customized to reflect the participant’s needs and priorities. Like many traditional psychotherapies, individual Life Goals sessions are about 45 minutes in length and occur weekly to biweekly. Most Course cover a common agenda: developing a personal symptom profile, including early warning signs and triggers; identification of the participant’s responses to symptoms; a personal cost-benefit analysis of these responses in view of their values and overall life goals; and development of an action plan. The length of a Life Goals Curriculum is determined by the number of Courses included. Most Courses are designed for two to four Modules. Life Goals can be done face-to-face or via video.
How do I receive training to become a Goals facilitator?
Life Goals training is now fully web-based. The training includes three levels:
| Training Level (TL) | Duration | Dates |
| TL1: Didactic Web-Based Training | 4-6 hours | Training is done on your own and can be taken all at once or broken up across times and dates of your choosing. Open to all clinicians and peer specialists. Continuing education credits are available. |
| TL2: Experiential Web-Based Training | 4-6 hours | Live cyber-seminar led by course faculty at scheduled dates. Open to those who have passed TL1. Continuing education credits are available. |
| TL3: Case Consultation | ~3 months biweekly | Individual 1:1 consultation sessions to be coordinated between participant and faculty. Covers implementation issues and consultation on individual and/or group cases. Open to those who have passed TL2. |
| Training Level (TL) | Duration | Dates |
|
TL1: Didactic Web-Based Training |
4-6 hours | Training is done on your own and can be taken all at once or broken up across times and dates of your choosing. Open to all clinicians and peer specialists. Continuing education credits are available. |
| TL2: Experiential Web-Based Training | 4-6 hours | Live cyber-seminar led by course faculty at scheduled dates. Open to those who have passed TL1. Continuing education credits are available. |
|
TL3: Case Consultation |
~3 months biweekly | Individual 1:1 consultation sessions to be coordinated between participant and faculty. Covers implementation issues and consultation on individual and/or group cases. Open to those who have passed TL2. |
To register for Training Level 1:
- US Department of Veterans Affairs employees: Search Life Goals Training Level 1 in the Talent Management System (TMS)
- Non-VA Personnel: Contact the Life Goals Faculty at lifegoalsresources@dvagov.onmicrosoft.com to register in the VA Talent Management System (TMS) and sign up for Life Goals Training Level 1.
Overview
The LG-CC model has three main components:
Self Management
The Self-management component includes the psychoeducation and psychotherapy modules used to remove obstacles that impede individuals’ ability to work towards their life goals. Self-management is either used in the context of the collaborative care model we call LG-CC, or used as a stand-alone clinical intervention we call simply, Life Goals.
Care Management
Care Management in LG-CC supports individuals in working towards their life goals. This is done by coordinating care and promoting a collaborative relationship between the individuals and their health care provider(s). Care management represents a core set of clinical activities that could be provided by the same person who delivers the self-management portion of the LG-CC program, or implemented by a team of providers within a health care organization or clinic; thus, the individual’s care manager does not need to be the Life Goals provider. In some cases, the LG-CC care management component can be incorporated into an existing care management program.
Decision Support
The goal of Decision Support is to assist health care providers in making appropriate evidence-based treatment decisions for the individuals for whom they are providing care. Wherever possible, decisions should be made in accordance with the preferences of these individuals (i.e. shared decision-making). However, providing a reasonable spectrum of options requires the provider to have two things:
1. Knowledge regarding the evidence-based treatment options (i.e., options supported by clinical studies and/or expert opinion)
2. Up-to-date information about the individual’s current clinical state and needs (measurement-based care)
Getting Started
Implementation
Who is best suited for Life Goals and LG-CC?
Life Goals and the LG-CC program are not specific to one diagnosis or even one population. The intervention was originally created to help adult individuals manage bipolar spectrum disorders but has subsequently expanded to help individuals manage a variety of mental health conditions and related lifestyle and wellness issues. Life Goals module content covers a wide array of topics and is customizable to fit an individual’s treatment needs. The program has not been adapted or tested with individuals under the age of 18 or those with serious cognitive conditions that may interfere with their ability to comprehend the written or spoken material. Currently, all up-to-date manuals are provided in American English.
The Life Goals bookend approach
Over the past few years we have developed the Self-Management portion of the LG-CC program into a flexible, modular approach in which shared decision-making involving both the provider and the individual in care sets the agenda. With the Life Goals Bookend Approach, think of a collection of books with a bookend on either side. The Life Goals “bookends” consist of the first and last modules (i.e. Introduction and Managing Your Care). However, the number and content of modules in between these bookends can be varied depending on the needs of the individual in treatment. The first module (bookend) acts as an introduction to the Life Goals program and sets the stage for exploring ways to better manage the individual’s health and mental health conditions. The Introductory module is the foundation of the Life Goals program and allows the individual to explore his or her personal goals and values that will drive behavior change. The final module (bookend) Managing Your Care, creates a plan for continued work toward the individual’s Life Goals that uses his or her identified values as impetus, proactively plans for “road blocks” and encourages ongoing collaboration with health care providers. This final module rounds out the work completed during the program and supports the resiliency of each individual and his or her ability to make meaningful change in his or her life. The middle modules may vary from individual to individual
Available Modules
Please register or log in to view modules
Managing Tobacco: Part I
Managing Tobacco: Part II
Mania: Symptoms and Triggers
Mania: Managing the Symptoms
Move Your Body, Move Your Mood
Psychosis: Part I
Psychosis: Part II
Substance Use: Part I
Substance Use: Part II
Sleep and Mood
Thoughts of Hopelessness (Suicide)
Trauma
Managing Your Care
Anxiety: Managing the Symptoms
CBT: Breaking the Cycle of Negative Feelings – Introduction
CBT: Breaking the Cycle of Negative Feelings – Thinking Differently
CBT: Breaking the Cycle of Negative Feelings – Taking Action
CBT: Breaking the Cycle of Negative Feelings – Relaxation and Wrap-Up
Dealing with Anger and Irritability
Depression: Symptoms and Triggers
Depression: Managing the Symptoms
Foods and Moods
The Life Goals program content remains one of skills management.
That is, assisting individuals in coping daily with symptoms and making decisions in their life and in their care that are in line with their life goals and values. Life Goals is not, for example, meant to be a definitive trauma therapy of the type one would find in specialty mental health clinics or substance use therapy as would be found in alcohol or drug treatment programs.
Rather, Life Goals as a skills management program is meant to support day-to-day symptom management, engagement in appropriate care, and wise decision-making regarding whether or not, or how, to seek more intensive specialty care. As such, Life Goals can be particularly valuable not only in specialty mental health settings that treat individuals with chronic conditions such as bipolar disorder, but also in less resourced general mental health settings and primary care, with the goal of engaging and stabilizing individuals in that setting—some, but not all of whom will need to go on to more intensive specialty care.
The Life Goals modules are designed so that they can be delivered in either group or individual format, including via clinical video teleconferencing for either format. When deciding between group versus individual sessions, a few factors should be taken into account including individual treatment preference and need, clinic factors (e.g. space availability), and billing factors.
A few circumstances in which individual sessions may be the preferred method of delivery include:
- When the individual is not comfortable attending group sessions
- When the Life Goals program content is customized specifically for one person
- When group services are not available
A few circumstances in which group sessions may be the preferred method of delivery include:
- When the Life Goals program content is applicable to more than one individual
- When individual services are not available
- When the group process of mutual education and support is particularly desirable
Delivering Life Goals in a group setting will make customization more difficult, as each individual is likely to have both common and dissimilar needs. Life Goals providers are encouraged to make the program as individual driven as possible and use their clinical judgment as to what topics are ultimately included.
There may be situations that arise in which in-person, individual sessions are not a possible mode of delivery (e.g. lack of transportation, lack of clinic space). Therefore, Life Goals modules are designed so that they can also be delivered flexibly, including via the telephone or by teleconference. Additional information on delivering the intervention in these different formats is available upon request.
The Life Goals modules are not intended to be delivered as a “drop-in” based group, however, no-shows and cancellations are inevitable. Therefore, module content can be delivered with a make-up session when possible.
If an individual misses a session and is receiving the modules in a group format, try to cover the main content of the missed session individually prior to the next group meeting if possible. If you are unable to do so, try to provide the individual a brief overview of the missed content before continuing on with new material.
Getting Started
Implementation
Who is best suited for Life Goals and LG-CC?
Life Goals and the LG-CC program are not specific to one diagnosis or even one population. The intervention was originally created to help adult individuals manage bipolar spectrum disorders but has subsequently expanded to help individuals manage a variety of mental health conditions and related lifestyle and wellness issues. Life Goals module content covers a wide array of topics and is customizable to fit an individual’s treatment needs. The program has not been adapted or tested with individuals under the age of 18 or those with serious cognitive conditions that may interfere with their ability to comprehend the written or spoken material. Currently, all up-to-date manuals are provided in American English.
The Life Goals bookend approach
Over the past few years we have developed the Self-Management portion of the LG-CC program into a flexible, modular approach in which shared decision-making involving both the provider and the individual in care sets the agenda. With the Life Goals Bookend Approach, think of a collection of books with a bookend on either side. The Life Goals “bookends” consist of the first and last modules (i.e. Introduction and Managing Your Care). However, the number and content of modules in between these bookends can be varied depending on the needs of the individual in treatment. The first module (bookend) acts as an introduction to the Life Goals program and sets the stage for exploring ways to better manage the individual’s health and mental health conditions. The Introductory module is the foundation of the Life Goals program and allows the individual to explore his or her personal goals and values that will drive behavior change. The final module (bookend) Managing Your Care, creates a plan for continued work toward the individual’s Life Goals that uses his or her identified values as impetus, proactively plans for “road blocks” and encourages ongoing collaboration with health care providers. This final module rounds out the work completed during the program and supports the resiliency of each individual and his or her ability to make meaningful change in his or her life. The middle modules may vary from individual to individual
Available Modules
Please register or log in to view modules
Managing Tobacco: Part I
Managing Tobacco: Part II
Mania: Symptoms and Triggers
Mania: Managing the Symptoms
Move Your Body, Move Your Mood
Psychosis: Part I
Psychosis: Part II
Substance Use: Part I
Substance Use: Part II
Sleep and Mood
Thoughts of Hopelessness (Suicide)
Trauma
Managing Your Care
Anxiety: Managing the Symptoms
CBT: Breaking the Cycle of Negative Feelings – Introduction
CBT: Breaking the Cycle of Negative Feelings – Thinking Differently
CBT: Breaking the Cycle of Negative Feelings – Taking Action
CBT: Breaking the Cycle of Negative Feelings – Relaxation and Wrap-Up
Dealing with Anger and Irritability
Depression: Symptoms and Triggers
Depression: Managing the Symptoms
Foods and Moods
The Life Goals program content remains one of skills management.
That is, assisting individuals in coping daily with symptoms and making decisions in their life and in their care that are in line with their life goals and values. Life Goals is not, for example, meant to be a definitive trauma therapy of the type one would find in specialty mental health clinics or substance use therapy as would be found in alcohol or drug treatment programs.
Rather, Life Goals as a skills management program is meant to support day-to-day symptom management, engagement in appropriate care, and wise decision-making regarding whether or not, or how, to seek more intensive specialty care. As such, Life Goals can be particularly valuable not only in specialty mental health settings that treat individuals with chronic conditions such as bipolar disorder, but also in less resourced general mental health settings and primary care, with the goal of engaging and stabilizing individuals in that setting—some, but not all of whom will need to go on to more intensive specialty care.
The Life Goals modules are designed so that they can be delivered in either group or individual format, including via clinical video teleconferencing for either format. When deciding between group versus individual sessions, a few factors should be taken into account including individual treatment preference and need, clinic factors (e.g. space availability), and billing factors.
A few circumstances in which individual sessions may be the preferred method of delivery include:
- When the individual is not comfortable attending group sessions
- When the Life Goals program content is customized specifically for one person
- When group services are not available
A few circumstances in which group sessions may be the preferred method of delivery include:
- When the Life Goals program content is applicable to more than one individual
- When individual services are not available
- When the group process of mutual education and support is particularly desirable
Delivering Life Goals in a group setting will make customization more difficult, as each individual is likely to have both common and dissimilar needs. Life Goals providers are encouraged to make the program as individual driven as possible and use their clinical judgment as to what topics are ultimately included.
There may be situations that arise in which in-person, individual sessions are not a possible mode of delivery (e.g. lack of transportation, lack of clinic space). Therefore, Life Goals modules are designed so that they can also be delivered flexibly, including via the telephone or by teleconference. Additional information on delivering the intervention in these different formats is available upon request.
The Life Goals modules are not intended to be delivered as a “drop-in” based group, however, no-shows and cancellations are inevitable. Therefore, module content can be delivered with a make-up session when possible.
If an individual misses a session and is receiving the modules in a group format, try to cover the main content of the missed session individually prior to the next group meeting if possible. If you are unable to do so, try to provide the individual a brief overview of the missed content before continuing on with new material.
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