Perspectives on goal setting: Video-reflexive ethnography with speech-language therapists and clients.
Laurien Brauner, Karin Neijenhuis, Ruth Dalemans and 2 others
PMID 39636242WHAT IT FOUND
Therapists and clients described goal setting as a slow discovery process, not a one-off task.
Clients often felt overwhelmed by jargon and unsure what a goal even is. Using plain language, visual aids, and giving time to think before deciding helped them feel heard and build trust.
Key findings
01Participants viewed goal setting as a complex discovery process requiring time and space, rather than an immediate action.
02Clients frequently felt communication was vulnerable during goal talks due to jargon, fast pacing, and difficulty retaining information about assessment results.
03Accessible strategies such as visual aids, plain language, written information to take home, and specific questioning techniques were identified as essential for effective shared goal setting.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The sample was very small (6 dyads) and lacked diversity in gender (all SLTs were female, all clients were male). No adolescents (12-17 years) were included in the study. Partners or family members were not present during the video-recorded sessions with adult clients, which may have influenced the interaction. The study took place in the Netherlands, so findings may not transfer directly to other healthcare systems or cultural contexts. This is a qualitative study exploring perspectives and needs; it does not test whether specific interventions improve outcomes.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The study was funded by ZonMw.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these themes as evidence that shared goal setting improves clinical outcomes. This study describes the experiences and perceived barriers of therapists and clients; it does not measure whether following these recommendations leads to better speech, language, or participation results.