Increase Follow-Through on Between-Session Tasks in Therapy
Many therapy clients struggle to complete between-session tasks, yet these assignments often hold the key to lasting progress. This article draws on insights from experienced therapists to address common obstacles and offer practical solutions. Learn two evidence-based approaches that help clients build consistency with therapeutic homework while maintaining motivation and self-compassion.
Invite Gentle Body Awareness
I don't assign formal homework because I have found that rigid between-session tasks often just become another area to feel behind on for clients, which can feel shaming and works against building nervous system safety. I like to invite clients to practice noticing a sensation or somatic pattern throughout the week, and perhaps take notes on what they notice. There's no expectation attached. This keeps our relationship free of shame and "parental" dynamics.
Explore Barriers Without Blame
I don't view unfinished therapy homework as failures. What I see in those instances are clues about the assignment, when to assign it, or what obstacles prevented completion from being accomplished emotionally. For many individuals experiencing some form of trauma, substance use disorder, or extreme distress, the assignments that appear easy on paper can seem far more difficult than that to accomplish outside the confines of their therapy sessions.
Therefore, I typically ask my clients the question: "How did this happen?" rather than "Why didn't you do it?" This approach eliminates the possibility of creating shame around the lack of accomplishment and creates an opportunity to obtain useful data. Following this inquiry, I will frequently reduce the size of the assignment, provide multiple assignment choices for my client, or even complete the first part of the assignment with them within the therapy session.
An additional method is to define a minimum acceptable performance level for each homework assignment. If the ultimate goal of a journaling assignment is to write for ten minutes, then the minimum would be to document at least one emotion or at least one stimulus. Small accomplishments can help build momentum. The purpose of homework is to foster self-efficacy or mastery, not to represent yet another area where the client feels they failed someone else.
Anchor Skills to Existing Habits
Daily routines can provide a reliable place for a therapy task. For example, a client might practice a coping skill after brushing their teeth or write a short thought record after dinner. Attaching a new action to something that already happens reduces the need to remember it from scratch.
The routine should be stable and easy to notice. It also helps to choose a time when the client has enough privacy and energy. Work with the client to attach the task to one existing daily habit.
Connect Practice to Core Values
Between-session tasks are more likely to matter when they connect to what the client cares about most. A task can be linked to values such as being a caring parent, building confidence, protecting health, or strengthening relationships. This helps the task feel like a meaningful choice instead of extra homework.
The therapist can ask how completing the task supports the life the client wants to build. Small tasks often feel more worthwhile when their purpose is clear. Help the client connect the next task to one important value.
Rehearse Steps Before Departure
Practice during the session can make a between-session task feel less confusing and less intimidating. The therapist and client can walk through the first step together before the appointment ends. This gives the client a chance to ask questions and notice any barriers.
It also allows the therapist to correct misunderstandings early. A brief rehearsal can build confidence because the client has already done part of the task once. Set aside a few minutes to practice the task before the client leaves.
Offer Concise Written Guidance
Written instructions give clients something clear to review after the session. The instructions should use simple words and describe what counts as finishing the task. For example, rather than saying to track feelings, the note can ask the client to record one feeling, one situation, and one response each day.
Clear completion criteria reduce uncertainty and make progress easier to notice. A short worksheet, phone note, or message may be easier to use than a long handout. Provide a simple written guide for the next task.
Map Details and Contingencies
A vague plan can make even a simple task hard to complete. Clear details help the client decide exactly when the task will happen, where it will happen, and what steps will be used. For instance, a plan may state that the client will take a five-minute walk in the park after work on Tuesday.
The plan should also consider likely obstacles, such as bad weather or a busy schedule. A backup plan can keep one setback from ending the effort. Ask the client to state a specific plan for the coming week.