Skip to main content
Headway

Clinical support

How to write an adjustment disorder treatment plan

These treatment plans aren’t one-size-fits-all, but following a few key steps can ensure you provide the support your clients need.

January 24, 2025 • Updated on August 29, 2025

5 min read

One of the more common diagnoses you’ve likely encountered is adjustment disorder, which is a client’s mental or behavioral response to stressful life events. Many different evidence-based interventions can help a client better manage and adapt to stress, but it’s up to you as a therapist to determine which one to use. 

Treatment plans for adjustment disorder aren’t one-size-fits-all, but following a few key steps can ensure you provide the support your clients deserve. Below, learn more about how to write an adjustment disorder treatment plan for your clients.

DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for adjustment disorder

Diagnosing adjustment disorder requires certain criteria, which are outlined in the DSM-5. The following criteria apply to people of all ages:


Criterion A

The development of emotional or behavioral symptoms in response to identifiable stressors, all occurring within a span of three months from the onset of these stressor(s).


Criterion B

These symptoms or behaviors exhibit clinical significance, as demonstrated by one or both of the following criteria:

  • Marked distress that is in excess of what would be expected given the nature or intensity of the stressor(s)
  • Significant impairment in one's social, professional, or other essential areas of life functioning.


Criterion C

The stress-related disturbance does not meet the diagnostic criteria for any other mental disorder and is not merely an exacerbation of a pre-existing mental disorder.


Criterion D

The symptoms do not reflect normal bereavement.


Criterion E

Once the stressor(s) or its consequences have terminated, the symptoms do not persist for more than an additional 6 months.

Adjustment disorder specifiers

  • With depressed mood: Predominant symptoms include persistently low mood, tearfulness, or feelings of hopelessness.
  • With anxiety: Predominant symptoms involve nervousness, excessive worry, jitteriness, or separation anxiety.
  • With mixed anxiety and depressed mood: A combination of depression and anxiety predominates.
  • With disturbance of conduct: Predominant symptoms are characterized by a disturbance of conduct.
  • With mixed disturbance of emotions and conduct: Both emotional symptoms(e.g., depression, anxiety) and disturbance of conduct are predominant.
  • Unspecified: If the predominant symptoms are not sufficiently severe for any of the above categories, or are of another type.


Adjustment disorder differential diagnosis

Keep in mind that onset and duration are important aspects of an adjustment disorder diagnosis. To qualify for adjustment disorder, symptoms must begin within three months of an identifiable stressor. These symptoms must resolve within six months after the stressor or its consequences are no longer present. 

Generally, adjustment disorder is not a long-term, indefinite diagnosis. If symptoms persist beyond that timeframe, a different diagnosis—such as major depressive disorder or generalized anxiety disorder—should be considered. Further, adjustment disorder is not the right diagnosis if a client’s symptoms meet criteria for another disorder, like MDD, GAD, or post-traumatic stress disorder.

Practice in-network with confidence

Simplify insurance and save time on your entire workflow — from compliance and billing to credentialing and admin.

Talk to a practice consultant

What to include in an adjustment disorder treatment plan

Key components covered in an adjustment disorder plan depend on the presenting concerns a client comes to therapy with, their goals for treatment, and how their adjustment disorder symptoms are presenting (in other words, the DSM-5 criteria they’ve met to warrant the diagnosis). 

Because adjustment disorder can have subtypes, your intervention should focus on the primary presenting symptoms. All treatment plans should include a goal, objective, and intervention. You should also incorporate evaluation criteria to help you assess whether your client is improving. 

Treatment is never one-size-fits-all, but typically, therapists include at least one goal and objective from each diagnostic criteria your client experiences. Your interventions should be based on psychological evidence and your clinical training.

Depending on the specific case you’re working with, you may include components that address the following aspects of adjustment disorder. 

Stress management

Because stress can be disruptive to your clients’ lives, you may help them develop tools to manage their emotional and physical stress.

Addressing negative thoughts

Your client’s thoughts likely contribute to their emotional state during stressful circumstances. Your treatment plan may include tools that help your client reframe the thoughts causing them distress.

Emotion regulation 

Adjustment disorder can result in symptoms of low mood or worry. You may decide to create goals that help clients manage their emotions in day-to-day life.

Communication skills

When stress is the result of relationship difficulties, it may be appropriate to help your client develop communication strategies to use with family, friends, and colleagues.

Adjustment disorder treatment plan example

Every client and case is different, but following certain themes can help ensure you develop the best possible plan to support clients who have experienced trauma. Below, find a sample treatment plan for adjustment disorder. 

Case example:

Jordan is a 28-year-old marketing professional recently laid off from their job of five years. Since the layoff, Jordan has been experiencing excessive worry about financial stability, difficulty sleeping, and irritability. They avoid applying for new jobs, fearing rejection, and have withdrawn from social activities. Jordan’s distress has caused significant strain on their relationship with their partner and reduced their ability to focus on daily tasks.

Goal 1: Reduce distress and improve emotional regulation

  • Objective 1.1: Practice incorporating mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) techniques (ie. 3-minute body scans) to manage anxiety 3x/week
  • Intervention 1.1: Teach MBSR techniques, starting with a 3-minute body scan, and practice in session
  • Objective 1.2: Identify 2-3 ways stress impacts daily life and how adaptive coping may help
  • Intervention 1.2: Provide psychoeducation about the impact of stress and coping mechanisms


Goal 2: Enhance coping skills and problem-solving abilities

  • Objective 2.1: Develop and utilize action plan for job searching, including setting weekly goals for submitting job applications over next month
  • Intervention 2.1: Use problem-solving worksheets to address barriers like time management or fear of rejection
  • Objective 2.2: Utilize at least one community resource for career counseling or networking
  • Intervention 2.2: Research and share information about local career counseling services


Goal 3: Rebuild social connections and improve relationships

  • Objective 3.1: Reach out to 1-2 supportive friends or family members to plan a social activity
  • Intervention 3.1: Identify individuals in client’s support network and brainstorm low-pressure social activities, addressing negative, automatic thoughts as they arise
  • Objective 3.2: Use cognitive restructuring technique 1x/week in conversation with partner to reduce irritability and improve connection
  • Intervention 3.2: Provide psychoeducation on cognitive restructuring to address negative assumptions about communication

Let Headway help

Running your own business is a lot to adjust to in and of itself. Headway supports providers with insurance credentialing, billing, claims, and clawback protections — so you can focus on your clients, and your craft. Connect with a Headway representative to learn how we can partner with your practice.

Talk to a practice consultant

This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute clinical, legal, financial, or professional advice. All decisions should be made at the discretion of the individual or organization, in consultation with qualified clinical, legal, or other appropriate professionals.

© 2026 Therapymatch, Inc. dba Headway. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission.

Clinical support