Interviews
An Interview with Arthur E. Jongsma Jr.
Question: How did the original Adult Psychotherapy Treatment Planner come about?
Arthur E. Jongsma Jr.: In 1993, I consulted for the Salvation Army Turning
Point chemical dependence treatment program. JCAHO reviewers had been critical
of the treatment plan documents being produced. They flagged lack of uniform
quality, deficits in problem definitions, low measurability of objectives, and
ambiguous interventions as issues.
I worked with the clinical director of the program, Mark Peterson, MSW, to
develop a menu of treatment plan components for common presenting problems in
that client population. The clinical and quality assurance staff eagerly
embraced this lexicon and organization, finding that it dramatically cut the
time they had to invest groping for words, yet enabled them to create
high-quality, customized treatment plans. This guidebook was expanded to include
general mental health issues and was published as The Complete Psychotherapy
Treatment Planner. Little did I know then that this single guidebook to help
mental health professionals would turn into a series of over 45 books as well as
software!
Q.: What have you enjoyed most about working on the PracticePlanners® series?
AEJ: It is satisfying to hear both graduate students and seasoned therapists
praise the contribution these books have made to their training and practice.
Also, as the series has evolved, I've had the honor of collaborating with very
knowledgeable experts in specialized fields such as addictions, couples and
family therapy, group therapy, and gerontology. Working with these specialists
has helped me broaden my own clinical skills.
Q: The bestselling status of the series certainly points to it being an
unusually useful tool for therapists. Why do you think that is?
AEJ: The breadth and depth of the Treatment Planners content is unparalleled in
the professional marketplace. We have tapped the resources of experts with many
different treatment populations and treatment approaches. And when Treatment
Planners are integrated with Progress Notes Planners, Homework Planners, and
Documentation Sourcebooks, it gives mental health professionals a complete
package of timesaving tools for comprehensive treatment planning and clinical
record management.
Q: What is ahead for you and the series?
AEJ: We recently launched a new line of books, Progress Notes Planners, that are
a natural extension of the Treatment Planners: helping mental health
professionals continue to save time while not compromising patient or client
care.
When I'm not collaborating on the books, I'm continuing in my private practice,
and putting together a wish list of new projects for the series! Which reminds
me, the chance to exchange ideas with colleagues is another thing I've greatly
enjoyed about working on the series. I'd love to get more feedback and
suggestions from mental health professionals.
Dr. Arthur E. Jongsma Jr. heads an independent group practice in Grand Rapids,
Michigan. He serves as coauthor of most of the books in the PracticePlanners®
series.
