Treatment plan example · Illustrative

PTSD Treatment Plan Example

A complete, fictional ptsd treatment plan: problem statement, long-term goal, measurable objectives, interventions and how progress is measured. Adapt the structure; build the content from your own assessment.

The MentalNote web app drafts treatment plans, intake assessments and progress notes from a recorded session, for you to review and edit. Free plan: 5 web-app scribe sessions a month, no credit card.

Illustrative example only. The client, scores and every other detail on this page are fictional and were written for this page. This is not a diagnosis, a treatment recommendation or clinical supervision. Build every plan from your own assessment of the client, and follow your licensing board, agency, payer and state requirements.

If a client is in crisis in the US, they can call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline). Outside the US, use local emergency services.

Sample ptsd treatment plan

Each objective names who will do what, how it will be measured and by when. Each intervention says what the clinician will do. That link between problem, goal, objective and intervention is what reviewers look for.

Sample treatment plan (fictional client)

Diagnosis	Posttraumatic stress disorder (ICD-10-CM F43.10), as established by the clinician's diagnostic assessment
Presenting problem	Adult client was in a serious car crash eight months ago. Reports intrusive memories, nightmares about four nights a week, avoiding driving and the crash location, startling easily and poor sleep. Has relied on others for rides since the crash. PCL-5 at intake: 48.
Strengths	Strong family support, holds a steady job, previously coped well with stress, wants to drive again.
Problem statement	Trauma-related intrusions, avoidance and hyperarousal limit driving, sleep and independence.
Long-term goal	Client will reduce PTSD symptoms enough to drive independently and sleep through most nights.
Short-term objectives	PCL-5 score will fall by at least 10 points from 48 and be below 33 within 16 weeks. Client will complete the steps of a jointly built driving exposure hierarchy, ending with driving a familiar route alone, by week 14. Nightmares will fall from about four nights a week to one or fewer, recorded on a sleep log, by the 90-day review. Client will use a grounding skill when intrusive memories occur and rate distress before and after on at least four occasions a week by week 4.
Interventions	Psychoeducation on common reactions to trauma and how avoidance maintains symptoms. A trauma-focused psychotherapy chosen with the client, such as Prolonged Exposure (imaginal and in vivo exposure) or Cognitive Processing Therapy, delivered by a clinician trained in it. Teach grounding and paced breathing for distress between sessions. Administer the PCL-5 regularly (many trauma-focused protocols use it weekly) and review progress with the client. With the client's written consent, coordinate with the primary care provider about sleep and refer for medication evaluation if the client wishes.
Frequency	Weekly individual sessions for the length of the chosen protocol (often 8 to 16 sessions), then review.
Measures	PCL-5 (20 items, scored 0 to 80). A score of 31 to 33 is often used as a provisional cut point for PTSD, and a drop of at least 10 points is commonly treated as clinically meaningful change.
Review	Every 90 days, or sooner if the clinical picture changes, with client participation. Client and clinician sign the plan.
Discharge criteria	PCL-5 below the provisional cut point and at least 10 points below baseline, client drives independently, and a plan is in place for handling future reminders and anniversaries.

More objectives you can adapt

Replace the numbers and dates with the client's own baseline and targets.

Area	Example objective
Avoidance	Client will visit one avoided place or activity from the hierarchy each week, staying until distress falls by half, for six weeks.
Sleep	Client will follow a consistent wind-down routine on five nights a week and record sleep on a log for four weeks.
Hyperarousal	Client will rate daily irritability (0 to 10) and reduce the weekly average by 3 points by week 10.
Trauma-related beliefs	Client will identify and challenge two stuck points about blame or safety using worksheets by week 8.
Connection	Client will resume one social activity dropped since the trauma by the 90-day review.

Interventions often used

Prolonged Exposure (PE)
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
Trauma-focused CBT
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Grounding and emotion regulation skills
Imagery rehearsal for nightmares

List only interventions you are trained to deliver and the client has agreed to.

Write the progress notes that match

Session notes should refer back to the objectives in the plan. These guides show how:

Other treatment plan examples

Depression Treatment Plan Example

Client will reduce depressive symptoms and return to their usual level of work and social functioning.

Anxiety Treatment Plan Example (Generalized Anxiety Disorder)

Client will reduce worry and anxiety to a level that no longer interferes with sleep, work and relationships.

Adult ADHD Treatment Plan Example

Client will build reliable organization and time-management habits that improve task completion at work and home.

Substance Use Treatment Plan Example (Alcohol Use Disorder)

Client will reduce alcohol use to their chosen target and reduce related harm to relationships and work.

Adjustment Disorder Treatment Plan Example

Client will adapt to the job loss, restore daily structure and return to their usual level of functioning.

See all examples and the blank template on the treatment plan examples hub, or read how to write treatment plan goals and objectives.

Frequently asked questions

What are treatment goals for PTSD?

Typical goals are fewer intrusive memories and nightmares, less avoidance of safe reminders, better sleep and a return to activities the client has dropped. Each goal needs objectives with a measure, such as a PCL-5 target or steps on an exposure hierarchy.

Which therapies belong in a PTSD treatment plan?

Clinical practice guidelines recommend trauma-focused psychotherapies such as Prolonged Exposure, Cognitive Processing Therapy and trauma-focused CBT, with EMDR also widely used. The plan should name the approach you are trained in and the client has agreed to.

Should the trauma be described in detail in the plan?

Usually not. The plan needs enough to explain the problem and the goals, for example "car crash eight months ago". Keep detailed trauma narratives out of the plan and follow your agency's rules on what belongs in the record.

Can MentalNote draft a treatment plan?

Yes. The MentalNote web app drafts treatment plans, intake assessments and progress notes from a recorded session, and you review and edit every draft. MentalNote is HIPAA-compliant, with a BAA included on every plan. The free plan includes 5 web-app scribe sessions a month.

Draft treatment plans in less time

Record a session with your client's consent and MentalNote drafts the note or plan for you to review. Free plan: 5 web-app scribe sessions a month, no credit card. Premium is $99/month or $990/year. HIPAA-compliant, with a BAA included on every plan.

Try a sample session, no signup or see pricing

Prefer Microsoft Word? Get the free Word add-in. Installs from Microsoft AppSource.