81: Enhancing Therapy Outcomes: Deconstructing Traditional Goal Setting [Dumb Things Therapists Say Series]

Traditional therapy often focuses on measuring changes in behaviors and emotions. While valuable, this approach may overlook some important aspects of the healing process. As an EMDR therapist, I've discovered a powerful metric that can transform how we set goals and assess progress in therapy: process outcomes. Process outcomes measure how easy, efficient, or effective it is to implement positive changes. For EMDR clients, this could mean tracking how quickly they can access coping strategies or how much emotional distress they experience when facing triggers. By focusing on these metrics, we gain a more nuanced understanding of therapeutic progress. This week, I’m sharing my "secret sauce" for goal-setting and assessment in EMDR therapy. You'll learn how decreasing disturbances in the body can lead to effortless behavioral changes and free up energy for personal growth. And we'll explore the power of neutralizing negative experiences and expanding positive resources. For therapists, this episode offers fresh perspectives on treatment planning and client progress. For therapy clients, it provides insights into what's possible with EMDR and how to advocate for a more comprehensive approach to your healing journey. Tune in to discover how EMDR and other brain-based therapies are changing the therapeutic process, offering faster, more efficient paths to lasting change. The Zero Disturbance podcast is for educational purposes and is not a replacement for a therapeutic relationship or individualized mental health or medical care. Come learn with us at Zero Disturbance: Want to learn more about empowering yourself to experience therapy or coaching on your terms? If you appreciated this episode, you won't want to miss out on The Client Workbook + supporting videos!  We also offer free resources for clients and therapists! Get access to our free client resource library for the most up-to-date tools and resources for your own journey. Therapists, access our favorite free resources for designing high-value offers in The Zero Disturbance Welcome Bundle.   With a Masters in Education from Vanderbilt, Kambria has been creating trainings and teaching adult learners for over 20 years. As the Director of Education and Quality Improvement at Stanford Medical School, she created ease in complex systems, thereby giving medical trainees successful learning experiences. Now, as a dedicated mom, therapist, and EMDR Consultant, Kambria knows what it means to do things efficiently, effectively, and in a learner-centered way. When she isn't podcasting or creating online courses, you can find Kambria playing with her twins on a beach in California.