Problem Priority List

Use this directive when a client arrives with numerous co-occurring concerns and feels overwhelmed. In these situations, identifying a productive focus for initial sessions can be challenging. The client may present their difficulties as a tangled, undifferentiated mass, making it hard to determine which issue warrants immediate attention. The goal is to move from a state of broad distress to a specific, workable starting point.

This tool functions by guiding the client to articulate and rank their difficulties according to personal distress. This simple act of organization can immediately reduce a sense of being swamped and clarifies the therapeutic agenda. It provides the practitioner with an immediate, client-centered framework for structuring initial interventions and setting realistic goals together, directly reflecting the client’s own stated priorities.