Goal Attainment Scaling: an effective treatment technique in short-term therapy

Abstract

The present study compares the outcome of short-term therapy for clients who established thearpy goals with their therapists and clients with whom no formalized goal setting occurred. When compared to control clients, clients receiving Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) had significantly (a) more positive outcomes as measured by posttests of anxiety, self-esteem, and depression; (b) higher ratings of their own motivation to change; and (c) higher ratings of their own change as a result of therapy. Therapists perceived their GAS clients to have changed more as a result of therpy but not to have been more motivated to change than their control clients.