People tend to get off-track when trying to make change in one or two ways: (1) They think that wanting things to be different is enough, that specific strategies to increase the probability of change are unnecessary; or (2) They know where they want to go and have identified some ways to change, but their strategies for change are unrelated to their specific problems and goals. Treatment plans are a way of creating a path that maximizes the probability of change, but creating a clear path for reaching it. They a re also the standard way of talking about the change process in most applied settings. Treatment plans generally have four parts: (a) identified problems, (b) goals for treatment, (c) methods of achieving these goals; and (d) estimated time to meet this goal. We will only look at the first three now. Problems, goals, and methods should all be related to each other and should be designed for your project. The first two columns should have been identified in your last paper. The third column is the only new part. This is how I approached a change project for another class in the Spring of 1997.

The more specific you can be in your descriptions of change strategies, the better. Good plans use many different techniques and attack antecedents, change behaviors and behavior chains, and modify consequences for behavior. Keep Walter and Pellar's model in mind. Change should be stated (a) in the positive (rather than as something to avoid) , (b) in the here and now, (c) as a process (d) that the client rather than someone else can control, (e) as specifically as possible, and (f) using the client's own language.

Problem 1.

I'm frequently very hungry at the end of the day and eat everything in sight once I get home. The problem is that I'm not hungry at dinnertime then.

Goal 1.

I'd like to feel less out of control when I eat. I'd rather wait until dinner time to eat and then only eat a more moderate amount of healthy food.

Treatment Goals	Methods	Expected date
1. a. Interrupt "binging" behavior before it begins.	1. a.i Observe "binging" behavior and its antecedents and consequences. aii. Educate self about role of cognitions in binging behavior. aiiiUse the word "binge" to describe eating rather than "snacking." a.iv Replace "warm" thoughts about food with "cool" thoughts. a.v Counter belief that if food tastes good that means that it can be eaten. a.vi Counter belief that body's set point is so accurate that small discrepancies will be compensated for. Remember that set point shifts up with richer diets, down with leaner ones.	By April 20.
1.b. Eat more moderately sized meals.	b.i Eat a healthy snack in the late afternoon at least five days per week to take the edge off of my appetite and reduce need for "binges." b.ii Prepare meals in advance, at least 3 days per week, so there is less time for snacking during meal preparation time.	By April 20.

Problem 2.

I often eat mindlessly, even when I'm not hungry.

Goal 2.

I'd like to eat when I'm hungry rather than for all sorts of other reasons.

Treatment Goals	Methods	Expected date
2. a. Begin eating when hungry rather than primarily to taste, social, or availability cues.	2. a.i Remind self of goals when thinking of engaging in "problematic" behavior. a.ii Interrupt behavior chains, finding something else to do, someplace else to go rather than eating when not healthy. a.iii Counter self-statements that suggest that one shouldn't waste food. Find other ways of using leftovers. a.iv Put leftovers away quickly, at least five days per week, especially foods that are readily snacked on. a.v Take a vitamin pill when putting in contacts, so iron intake is no excuse to snack.	By April 20.

Problem 3.

3. I often do many different tasks simultaneously. It's easy to lose track of my motivation to change my eating habits.

Goal 3.

3. I want my change to be something that I continue across time.

Treatment Goals	Methods	Expected date
3.a. Maintain commitment across time.	3. a.i Engage a buddy. Remind each other of commitment to goals. a.ii Chart cooking, exercising, binging, vitamin use and weight on refrigerator and talk about project in class. a. iii Post progress on web page weekly and solicit feedback a.iv Compliment self on commitment and progress made. a.v Note how good it feels on a good exercise day and how slight hunger also can feel good.	By April 10.