Goal setting for anxiety and depression with young people: what works for whom in therapeutic relationships?
We are combining reviews of literature and additional sources, along with consultation with experts by experience (8 young people/young adults with experience of anxiety or depression and therapy, and 6 academics/clinicians), located in six countries (Brazil, Norway, Pakistan, Spain, Turkey, and the UK). The aim is to explore whether collaborative goal setting is a helpful or unhelpful element of relationships between young people and practitioners, for young people experiencing anxiety or depression. We want to tap into for whom goal setting is/isn’t helpful, the mechanisms (why/why not and how) and under what circumstances (e.g., country, type of support). Young people with lived experience are integral to the design and delivery of this research via the team peer researchers and international advisory group, ensuring that all stages of the research are in line with the views and feedback of young people. Youth advisors are actively taking part in the design, implementation, and the dissemination of findings.
We will report our findings and recommendations by the end of the calendar year. This forms part of the Wellcome Trust’s mental health strategy, launched in 2020.