HISTORY OF MY LIFE

This includes your age, your occupation, a short history of your education and previous jobs, your marital history and status, and a brief overview and summary of what your day and your week are like. This should only take up a few paragraphs.

HISTORY OF THE PRESENTING PROBLEM

Figure out the main reason or reasons why you want therapy. Then try to remember when these issues started. Write down any significant events that were happening at the time the problem began. Rate how bad that first experience was on a scale of 1 to 100 with 100 being the worst possible. Next, give an idea of how long the problem lasted. Did it come and go, or has it been steady since it began? Include how painful the problem is right now on your 1 to 100 scale. Be sure to cover any insights you might have into the situation and whether you have noticed any signs of improvement or relief.

ALCOHOL HISTORY

Write down any alcohol that you have used in the past five years or since your problem started. State how much alcohol you drink per week. Be very specific in terms of how many and the size of the glasses and the type and amount of alcohol.

DRUG HISTORY

List any illegal drugs you are using and for how often and for how long. Then write down the names of any prescription drugs you are currently using and who prescribed them and for what purpose. Be sure to include the dose and how often you take the medication.

DREAM HISTORY

Include any dreams that stand out prominently in your mind. If you have recurring dreams, then write out the dream. If you keep a journal of your dreams, then write out any recurring patterns you notice.

FAMILY TREE

On a separate sheet of paper turned length-wise write your parents names at the top left and your partner's parent's names at the top right. Make a line underneath each couple's names and then underneath that line write down all of the children from that relationship from oldest on the left to youngest on the right (be sure to include yourself). Then draw a line under yourself and your partner and bring each line down and together making a U shape symbolizing your relationship.

Under this symbol for your relationship, include any children you have again with the oldest on the left and the youngest on the right.

Next go through each member of the family tree and give a one-word description of each of these individuals. Next to each person's name, write any mental illnesses that you think that person has.

You have now completed the first step of a family tree. Your therapist may want to expand this tree to include a previous generation (your grandparents). You may find one generation can be complicated enough without trying to include all of the divorces, marriages, stepparents, half-siblings, and siblings. The goal is to try to give the therapist a clear, brief picture of your family.

RELATIONSHIP HISTORY

Give the therapist an overview of the significant relationships in your life and how long they have lasted. Include why the relationships ended and what your current situation is at present. If you are dating, or haven't dated for a long time then include that information. If you are coming to therapy for relationship problems, then this section should include as much detail as possible.

PROBLEM SOLVING HISTORY

This section covers the attempts you have made to deal with your problem. Also, include other significant problems you may have solved and other accomplishments. (Accomplishments are included to show the therapist challenges that you have overcome--it's okay to brag about yourself and it's okay if you can't think of any groundbreaking triumph.)

OVERVIEW OF YOUR EMOTIONAL SUPPORT SYSTEM

This contains a short description of what you do to take care of yourself. Also, include whether or not you have close friends or family that you can turn to with real emotional problems. Your therapist is looking for ways that you can support yourself emotionally outside of the therapy session.

THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE

Include the times that you have thought about killing or hurting yourself. State what was happening and what you did. Write out any thoughts you are currently having about killing yourself and whether or not you have thought about how you would actually do it. If you have current thoughts of suicide then take this part of your history and highlight it with a bright highlighting pen. Also, be sure to tell your therapist directly about such thoughts.

OBJECTIVES FOR THERAPY

Include how you are feeling now, and where you would like to be. Remember that your final goal will hopefully be to grow from dependence on your therapist to eventually becoming your "own therapist"--someone who is able to solve your own problems.

* * *

Make sure your written history is neat and clear. You are now ready to give it to the therapist. The therapist will then have the tools to quickly focus on your situation and help you obtain your goals for therapy.