Working with goals in youth mental health and substance use service: A review of current practice guidelines and recommendations

Source:

Nugent, M., Burchell, D., Chorney, J., Clark, S., Cooper, M., Emberly, D., Impey, D., Jacob, J., Khan, A., Lane, J., Law, D., Riddell, R. P., & Wozney, L. Working with goals in youth mental health and substance use service: A review of current practice guidelines and recommendations. JCPP Advances, e70173. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcv2.70173

Key Points

What's known?

• Goals are often set but not actively used in therapy, reflecting limited practice-ready guidance in existing research. This review synthesizes fragmented evidence to demonstrate how goals can be meaningfully integrated and revisited throughout therapy, rather than treated as a one-time assessment task.

What's new?

• Research rarely explains how goal-focused work supports engagement in everyday practice. By integrating research findings and practice recommendations, this review clarifies how working with goals can promote shared understanding and engagement, without becoming rigid or administratively driven.

What's relevant?

• The literature often under-represents the realities of youth-focused and diverse service settings. This review highlights practical considerations for adapting goal-related practices to developmental, cultural, and system contexts commonly encountered in youth mental health and addictions care.