Clients' Rehabilitation Goals and Outcome

Abstract

This study assessed (1) the relationship between clients' individual goals and outcome of a rehabilitation treatment program, and (2) improvement in particular areas of functioning irrespective of clients' intentions to work on a goal. Subjects were 49 psychiatric inpatients. Clients identified their goals and assessed their own functioning in 11 areas before beginning the treatment program and again upon termination. Rehabilitation counselors provided parallel assessments of clients at both times. From both clients' and counselors' perspectives, there was statistically significant improvement in the client-identified goal areas, but no significant change in the areas on which clients did not plan to work. Methodological and clinical implications of the findings are discussed.