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Old Plan / New Plan

Old Plan / New Plan
🛡️ Mastery 🧠 Cognition

A structured relapse-prevention document created in the final sessions of MCT. Two columns: "Old plan" (meta-beliefs, CAS, coping) and "New plan" (how the client will react now). Helps to consolidate the changes and to prepare for future triggers.

Step-by-step guide

  1. Together recall what the "old plan" looked like at the start of therapy
  2. Write down what has changed — beliefs, behavior, reactions
  3. Write the "New plan" out: trigger → notice CAS → DM/postponement → new belief
  4. Work through possible difficulties ("What if it starts again?")
  5. The client takes the document with them as a personal tool

When to use

  • The final 2–3 sessions out of 8–12 in total
  • On completion of the MCT protocol as a mandatory element

Key phrases

What do you know now that you did not know at the start?

Follow-up questions

If something starts again in a year — what will you do?
This is not the end of the work — this is your personal tool

Alternative phrasings

What did your reaction to anxiety look like before? What does it look like now?

Warnings

  • ⚠️ Do not turn it into a formal list — the client must understand and own the document

Source: Wells, 2009

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Materials are informational and educational and summarize publicly available scientific sources. They are not medical or psychological advice, are not intended for self-diagnosis or self-treatment, and do not replace consultation with a qualified professional.