Professional tools
Worksheets, checklists, and recording structures for preparation, sessions, formulation, and follow-up.
Psychosomatics tools support professional thinking. They should not turn a session into an interview form or replace contact, judgment, and adaptation to the person in front of you.
Tool groups
Choosing a tool
| Group | Possible use | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Before a session | Clarify request, risk, context, assumptions, and time boundaries. | A clearer focus and fewer automatic conclusions. |
| During a session | Separate fact, memory, assumption, and meaning; trace the response sequence. | A shared map without imposing an explanation. |
| After a session | Record agreements, open questions, risk, and next contact. | Continuity and a reviewable plan. |
| For supervision | Notice countertransference, blind spots, role conflict, and consultation needs. | A wider perspective and safer boundaries. |
| For referral | Record reason, urgency, completed steps, and information that may be shared with consent. | More coordinated care. |
Use rules
- Explain why a tool is being offered and how the record will be used.
- Collect no more sensitive information than the task requires.
- Store records according to professional, organizational, and legal requirements in your jurisdiction.
- Do not use a checklist as proof that risk is absent.
- Stop if the tool increases shame, disorientation, or the experience of being interrogated.
Practical questions
Must every field be completed?
No. Use only the sections that fit the purpose, available time, and the person’s state.
Can tools be sent between sessions?
Yes, when purpose, secure delivery, between-session boundaries, and a plan for deterioration are clear.
What should be written when the answer is uncertain?
Write the uncertainty. A blank field or several hypotheses is often more accurate than a premature answer.