Working Towards Client-Defined Goals — The Bruges Model

A principled stance of the Bruges Model: the therapist never works toward a goal the client does not share, even if that goal seems "correct" from a clinical point of view. The therapist may inform but not redefine the goal. This includes the recognition of the client's right to controlled use as a legitimate treatment goal. The goal must be formulated positively — what will be, not what will not be.

Step-by-step guide

Clarify the client's goal in their own words
Specify: "How will you know that you have reached this?"
Make sure the goal is formulated positively (what will be, not what will not be)
Make sure the goal is realistic and within the client's zone of influence
Work only with this goal, do not substitute it with the "correct" one

When to use

Throughout the whole treatment — as a constant orientation
Especially important under pressure from third parties (family, court)
When you sense the client is working "for the therapist" rather than for themselves
When reviewing the course — make sure the new goal is still the client's

Key phrases

What do you want from our work? Not other people — you?

How will you know that you have reached this?

Follow-up questions

What will be different when this happens?

Is this what you want — or what others want for you?

What will be a good enough result for you?

Alternative phrasings

If no one were pressuring and you could choose for yourself — what would you want?

Imagine that in six months you say: "Therapy helped". What changed?

Warnings

⚠️ Do not confuse client-centeredness with permissiveness: in medical danger — inform
⚠️ Distinguish the client's own goal from the expectations of the referrer
⚠️ A goal formulated as a negation ("not to drink") requires a positive reformulation

Source: Isebaert, 2016; De Shazer & Isebaert, 2003; González Suitt et al. 2019