This is another name for
"Homework", or an
Inter-session activity, but this title is chosen here because for some young people
the word homework is immediately aversive (for those with a poor educational history, or for those who have left school and would no longer consider themselves subject to such conventions.) It is a structured form of
Behavioural activation.
It is helpful to set Training Challenges, not only as a probe to explore the level of
Engagement, but also to increase the sense of
Self-efficacy, either in an individual, or a family.
1. Content
Try to ensure this arises organically out of a session - practicing something that has come up...
Tasks have the purpose of continuing some of the work initiated in the session, and create a framework within which the family is requested to function, pinpointing or dramatizing certain interactions. Examples of such tasks for individuals are:
Example tasks for families include:
- A controlled argument about a specified agenda once weekly at a set time for a set period
- Diary keeping (see above), for instance, "guessing when patient is feeling well and noticing and observing the circumstances".
- An "unusual" outing
- Prescription of more autonomy for a family member around specific issues
- Focussing on Strengths.
Tasks are designed to provide new information rather than being "prescriptions for more adequate living". While the keyworker is interested in feedback about the task, it is important that the family should not feel blamed for not carrying out the task, or for modifying it, since all the responses to the task are of use to the keyworker and family in gaining more understanding of their patterns of interaction and beliefs. While some specific examples and generic tasks were mentioned above, tasks or rituals essentially emerge from the specific keyworker/family interaction in a particular session.
2. Consistency
If a training challenge is set you must always ask about it at the next session: to ignore it when a young person or family has put effort in would undermine
Engagement.
3. Contingencies
Preparing for likely
Contingencies is important - what do you do if a Training Challenge is set and the young person or family
doesn't do it?
- Avoid at all costs implying that this is a failure on the part of the young person or family members (this would be to risk repeating a story that they may have heard retold many times before.)
- Instead refer to the therapist stance of taking responsibility in Maintaining Mind-mindedness
"I just didn't get that Training challenge right at all, then did I?! What do you think I should have done to fix you up with a challenge that wasn't just going to turn into a drag for you? Can you help me out here, because I definitely got that one wrong!"