During which stage do helpers set goals with their clients?

The intervention planning stage is critical in the helping process because it is specifically focused on setting goals with clients. This stage follows the assessment stage, where the helper evaluates the client's needs, strengths, and challenges. During intervention planning, the helper collaborates with the client to determine achievable and meaningful goals based on the information gathered during the assessment.

This collaborative goal-setting empowers clients and gives them ownership of their own process. It ensures that the goals are tailored to the client's unique situation and values. The goals established during this stage guide the intervention strategies that will be employed in subsequent stages of the helping process, making it a foundational part of effective human services practice.

Other stages, such as assessment, follow-up, and closure, focus on different aspects of the helping relationship. The assessment stage is primarily about gathering information, while the follow-up is concerned with checking in on progress and making any necessary adjustments. Closure deals with summarizing the work accomplished and ensuring that clients feel prepared to move forward independently. None of these stages focus on actively setting goals in collaboration with the client as the intervention planning stage does.