Problem Solving
Problem Solving/Goal Setting/Action Planning Strategies
1. 4 Stages of Problem Solving
a. Establishing the problem – being specific and concrete – who? what? Why? When?
I am aware that my partner suffers from a form of depression. He can be well for a while and then start to feel down; feel that his life is not working for him. After a while his mood lifts and he begins to feel well again.
When he feels down, he often feels that me being part of his life forms some (or a lot) of what’s not working for him. On more than one occasion he has decided that we should separate our lives. This is not something he has, as yet, followed through.
When he feels well, he feels that I form part of his life which is enriched and fulfilling.
The time span from feeling well to feeling down varies and can be as little as a few weeks to months.
b. Exploring the Problem
Although I truly feel for my partner I want this exercise of problem solving to be about the problems it brings for me.
i. Where my life with my partner is concerned, I cannot plan far into the future. All my future plans are around those things I can both do by myself (should my partner leave) and that we can do together. This is restrictive about small decisions and big life changing decisions. One which springs to mind is about moving home. ii. I have feelings of being inadequate as when he is feeling down, he truly feels that I am not a positive force in his life. iii. Even when he is well, those feeling he had of me being inadequate he remembers and they “spill over” into his feeling well period. This means I feel that I’m never free of not being a disappointment in his eyes iv. When he’s down I receive limited support from him and he’s an additional drain on my energy
c. Eliminating the Problem (Goal Setting; Sub Goal Setting; Steps to Reach Goal). Being as specific as possible.
i. Recognise the “up” time and make the most of this time. ii. Understand what support he needs when he’s
1. 4 Stages of Problem Solving
a. Establishing the problem – being specific and concrete – who? what? Why? When?
I am aware that my partner suffers from a form of depression. He can be well for a while and then start to feel down; feel that his life is not working for him. After a while his mood lifts and he begins to feel well again.
When he feels down, he often feels that me being part of his life forms some (or a lot) of what’s not working for him. On more than one occasion he has decided that we should separate our lives. This is not something he has, as yet, followed through.
When he feels well, he feels that I form part of his life which is enriched and fulfilling.
The time span from feeling well to feeling down varies and can be as little as a few weeks to months.
b. Exploring the Problem
Although I truly feel for my partner I want this exercise of problem solving to be about the problems it brings for me.
i. Where my life with my partner is concerned, I cannot plan far into the future. All my future plans are around those things I can both do by myself (should my partner leave) and that we can do together. This is restrictive about small decisions and big life changing decisions. One which springs to mind is about moving home. ii. I have feelings of being inadequate as when he is feeling down, he truly feels that I am not a positive force in his life. iii. Even when he is well, those feeling he had of me being inadequate he remembers and they “spill over” into his feeling well period. This means I feel that I’m never free of not being a disappointment in his eyes iv. When he’s down I receive limited support from him and he’s an additional drain on my energy
c. Eliminating the Problem (Goal Setting; Sub Goal Setting; Steps to Reach Goal). Being as specific as possible.
i. Recognise the “up” time and make the most of this time. ii. Understand what support he needs when he’s