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Planning Tasks

SKILL: Reasoning

DIFFICULTY: 4/5

LEVELS: 2, based on the number of choices

BRIEF RATIONALE: This treatment teaches a proven method for planning and completing tasks successfully.

In Planning Tasks, you will learn to plan a daily living task by completing the guided steps. You will be given choices to facilitate the learning process and reduce complexity. There are 7 steps in the sequence.

  1. TASK: Select a daily living task from three choices. Tasks come from a variety of functional categories including finances, food and drink, household, leisure, medical, transportation, and vocation. Low-level and high-level tasks are included to account for individuals across all settings. You are encouraged to select a task that is meaningful and relevant. If none apply, use the Skip button in the top right corner of the screen to see three new tasks.
  2. ITEMS: Select 3-4 items needed to complete the task.
  3. STEPS: Arrange 3-5 steps in order to practice sequencing.
  4. TIME: Select the approximate time it will take to complete the task, given 2-3 choices to practice estimation.
  5. STRESS: Indicate which steps could be stressful to gain insight into current abilities and the need to use a strategy.
  6. STRATEGIES: Select strategies from three choices. This is meant to give practical examples of strategies you can implement in real life across various tasks.
  7. PREDICTIONS: Select 1-2 problems that could occur to practice reasoning.

FOR THE CLINICIAN: The treatment design is inspired by multiple evidence-based treatments including Goal/Plan/Do/Review/Revise, Goal Management Training, Time Pressure Management, the Predict-Perform-Evaluate procedure, and metacognitive strategy training. It is meant to precede the treatment, Planning Your Tasks, so the patient becomes familiar with the sequence and expected responses.

Selected References:

  1. Cicerone, K. D., Dams-O'Connor, K., Eberle, R., Fraas, M., Ganci, K., Langenbahn, D., ... & Trexler, L. E. (2022). The ACRM cognitive rehabilitation manual & textbook: translating evidence-based recommendations into practice. ACRM Publishing.
  2. Fasotti, L., Kovacs, F., Eling, P. A., & Brouwer, W. H. (2000). Time pressure management as a compensatory strategy training after closed head injury. Neuropsychological rehabilitation, 10(1), 47-65.
  3. Goal, Plan, Do, Review & Revise (GPDR/R) Guide. (n.d.). https://www.gpdrr.org/uploads/1/2/4/6/124640728/gpdrr_guide_final_2-27-2020.pdf