Measure what you treasure, the saying goes. The adage is true for fitness goals, business goals, and even therapy goals.
Children’s Health Council practices measurement-informed care to help clients track their symptoms throughout treatment. It’s a bit like when a medical appointment begins with checking vital signs: the doctor asks why you’re there, but also looks at metrics like blood pressure and heart rate and compares these metrics over time to inform their plan for your care.
Measurement-informed behavioral health care works the same way. While your therapist will always check in on how you’re feeling, they’ll also gather data to track progress. This data helps therapists make adjustments as needed, shows clients their improvements, and ensures children and families get the most out of their therapy sessions. The approach has other benefits too: it improves client-provider communication and gives clients a voice in their treatment. Research shows that measurement-informed care also reduces treatment disparities for people of color.
Measurement-informed care also often leads to faster progress. Because therapists have a clear understanding of what’s working for their clients, they can focus on the strategies that bring about positive changes faster.
Gauging Progress Isn’t Always Easy
Healing can be a long and challenging road, and it’s not always straightforward. Kids, teens, and their families can find it challenging to see the progress being made in therapy. That’s where measurement-informed care comes in.
A therapist practicing measurement-informed care typically collaborates with a client to determine what’s important to them; they then work together to select what will be measured based on those priorities. For example, a therapist treating a client for depression might measure depression symptoms but could also measure hope or quality of life.
By tracking measures over time, a therapist can get an objective picture of how a client is doing and can adjust treatment if needed. Having visible markers also provides motivation to help clients keep moving forward.
Measurement-Informed Care Gets Results
CHC uses measurement-informed care for a simple reason: it works. Kids and teens see results, and families notice the improvements. Research shows that when therapists have access to ongoing feedback, patients are more likely to get better and make progress in areas that are important to them. And when families see that progress, they can tell that therapy is working—which helps them feel more hopeful about and motivated to continue the therapy process for their child.
While they should not replace professional treatment, mental health apps can offer several benefits. Check out the list of online tools and apps curated by experts from CHC’s Catherine T. Harvey Center for Clinical Services.
Measurement-informed care also often leads to faster progress. Because therapists have a clear understanding of what’s working for their clients, they can focus on the strategies that bring about positive changes faster. If something isn’t helping a child as much as expected, therapists can quickly shift their approach. This means kids and families don’t have to spend as long in therapy, which is a relief for everyone. For parents, it’s not just about saving time and money—it’s also about reducing the emotional stress that can come with long-term treatment. Measurement-informed care can also support families and therapists in knowing when it is time to graduate from treatment, with everyone feeling confident about the progress made.
How Does It Work?
At CHC, clients log their personalized measures through Blueprint, an app that can be accessed through their personal device or a CHC iPad. Blueprint is HIPAA compliant, so clients’ personal information is secure. The clinician can track the progress on specific symptoms over time, share their observations with the client, and then discuss progress and shift their approach as needed. Understanding how their measures are improving can help encourage teens and kids—and their parents—that things are moving in the right direction.
Conclusion
Despite measurement-informed care’s many documented benefits, it’s estimated that less than 20% of behavioral health practitioners have integrated it into their practice. At CHC, we’re proud to be leaders in the field, committed to using this evidence-based approach to provide the best possible care for our clients.
Clients can trust that they’re getting care that’s not only compassionate but also backed by evidence—because when care is informed by real results, everyone benefits.
Meet The CHC Expert
Pardis Khosravi, PsyD , Dr. Pardis Khosravi, PsyD, is a clinical director and licensed psychologist specializing in psychological evaluations and evidence-based psychotherapy for children, adolescents, and transitional-aged youth. She integrates CBT and DBT in her therapeutic approach, with a focus on empowering clients through individualized assessments and actionable recommendations. Dr. Khosravi earned her PsyD from the PGSP-Stanford PsyD Consortium and completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the San Diego Center for Children. She is passionate about helping families build resilience and optimize academic, social, and emotional functioning. Dr. Khosravi is fluent in Farsi.
