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By Maryam Ashkan
Trauma Specialist & Clinical Supervisor
NOT SURE HOW TO
STRUCTURE YOUR
SESSIONS?
You know the theory. You know the tools.
But when it comes to session flow, most
training leaves you guessing.
By Maryam Ashkan
Trauma Specialist & Clinical Supervisor
NOTHING IN THERAPY IS
ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL.
These are not rigid rules. These are flexible templates
to give you clarity, not constraints. Adjust as needed.
This cheat sheet gives you clear, time-based
structures for 15 modalities, so you can show up
confident, prepared, and grounded.
By Maryam Ashkan
Trauma Specialist & Clinical Supervisor
WHAT YOU’LL GET
Each structure includes:
✅ Suggested time breakdown (for a 50-min session)
✅ Key questions to ask
✅ Common therapist mistakes
✅ One powerful intervention
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By Maryam Ashkan
Trauma Specialist & Clinical Supervisor
CBT SESSION STRUCTURE
🕒 5 min mood check
🕒 5 min agenda-setting
🕒 15 min review of homework / thought tracking
🕒 20 min intervention
🕒 5 min homework planning
🔑 Ask: "What thoughts came up since last session?"
⚠️ Mistake: Skipping agenda or diving into symptoms
too fast.
💥 Try: Downward arrow technique to reach core
beliefs.
By Maryam Ashkan
Trauma Specialist & Clinical Supervisor
EMDR SESSION
STRUCTURE
🕒 5 min stabilization/resourcing
🕒 10 min target memory review
🕒 25 min processing (bilateral stim)
🕒 10 min grounding/closure
🔑 Ask: "What are you noticing now?"
⚠️ Mistake: Rushing into reprocessing before client
readiness.
💥 Try: Safe place or container imagery to start.
By Maryam Ashkan
Trauma Specialist & Clinical Supervisor
ACT SESSION STRUCTURE
🕒 5 min check-in
🕒 10 min values clarification / tracking avoidance
🕒 25 min defusion, acceptance, mindfulness work
🕒 10 min committed action / homework
🔑 Ask: "If you weren’t struggling with this thought,
what would you be doing differently?"
⚠️ Mistake: Getting stuck in psychoeducation, not
experiential work.
💥 Try: "Passengers on the Bus" metaphor exercise.
By Maryam Ashkan
Trauma Specialist & Clinical Supervisor
PSYCHODYNAMIC
SESSION STRUCTURE
🕒 5 min brief check-in
🕒 40 min free association / deep exploration
🕒 5 min reflection / linking to patterns or transference
🔑 Ask: "What do you think is happening between us
right now?"
⚠️ Mistake: Avoiding transference when it arises.
💥 Try: Gentle interpretation of emerging relational
patterns.
By Maryam Ashkan
Trauma Specialist & Clinical Supervisor
DBT SESSION STRUCTURE
🕒 5 min mindfulness
🕒 10 min diary card review
🕒 20 min skill coaching (distress tolerance, etc.)
🕒 10 min behavioral analysis
🕒 5 min homework
🔑 Ask: "What skill did you use this week? How did it
work?"
⚠️ Mistake: Not using the diary card consistently.
💥 Try: Chain analysis with client to identify behavior
triggers.
By Maryam Ashkan
Trauma Specialist & Clinical Supervisor
IFS SESSION STRUCTURE
🕒 5 min check-in
🕒 10 min parts mapping
🕒 25 min parts dialogue or unblending
🕒 10 min reflection / integration
🔑 Ask: "What part of you is showing up right now?"
⚠️ Mistake: Trying to “fix” parts instead of listening to
them.
💥 Try: Invite client to ask permission to connect with
a protective part.
By Maryam Ashkan
Trauma Specialist & Clinical Supervisor
SFBT (SOLUTION-FOCUSED
BRIEF THERAPY) STRUCTURE
🕒 5 min welcome + strengths focus
🕒 10 min miracle question or preferred future
🕒 25 min scaling / exception exploration
🕒 10 min summary + next steps
🔑 Ask: "What will be the first small sign that things
are getting better?"
⚠️ Mistake: Spending too much time on the problem.
💥 Try: Use exception questions to shift focus to
solutions.
By Maryam Ashkan
Trauma Specialist & Clinical Supervisor
NARRATIVE THERAPY
STRUCTURE
🕒 5 min rapport / check-in
🕒 10 min deconstructing the problem story
🕒 25 min externalizing + preferred story building
🕒 10 min reflection / documentation
🔑 Ask: "When has the problem not been in charge of
your life?"
⚠️ Mistake: Centering the therapist's interpretation vs.
the client's voice.
💥 Try: Invite the client to name the problem as a
separate “character.”
By Maryam Ashkan
Trauma Specialist & Clinical Supervisor
PLAY THERAPY STRUCTURE
🕒 5 min warm-up / connection
🕒 10 min free or structured play
🕒 25 min themed intervention / expression
🕒 10 min grounding and transition
🔑 Ask: "Can you show me with the toys what
happened?"
⚠️ Mistake: Overanalyzing vs. attuning to symbolic
play.
💥 Try: Use non-directive play to support emotional
regulation.
By Maryam Ashkan
Trauma Specialist & Clinical Supervisor
INTEGRATIVE THERAPY
STRUCTURE
🕒 5 min mood or goal check-in
🕒 10 min draw from core modality (e.g. CBT, ACT, etc.)
🕒 25 min personalized interventions (mixing tools)
🕒 10 min wrap-up / homework / reflection
🔑 Ask: "What do you want to take with you from
today?"
⚠️ Mistake: Mixing tools without clear intention or fit.
💥 Try: Use a structured modality as foundation and
blend strategically.
THANK YOU
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Repost this post
if you think your network would find it helpful.
By Maryam Ashkan
Trauma Specialist & Clinical Supervisor