The primary goal of treatment is to relieve symptoms and help the person achieve a level of functioning comparable to that before the stressful event.
Most mental health professionals recommend a form of psychosocial treatment, such as individual psychotherapy, family therapy, behavior therapy and self-help groups. Realistic short-term goals should be made at the start of therapy, as the course of adjustment disorder is short-term in nature.
Goals of therapy will often center around social supports available to the individual in the form of family, friends and community. The individual's coping and problem solving skills will be explored and developed. Relaxation techniques might be explored to deal with feelings of stress. Treatment will include eliciting the patient's concern and helping the individual understand his or her role in the stressors; reviewing and reinforcing positive steps the patient has taken to deal with the stress; teaching ways to cope or avoid stressors in the future; helping the individual to place stressors in perspective to overall life; helping the individual to understand his reaction to the stressors; and helping the individual view stressors as chance for positive change or improvement.
