Setting goals in therapy can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re already dealing with anxiety. In simple terms, SMART goals help you break big emotional challenges into smaller, manageable steps.
How SMART Goals Help with Anxiety
- Reduce avoidance by creating clear next steps
- Build confidence through visible progress
- Increase control with structure and certainty
SMART goal example:
Instead of saying, “I want to feel less anxious” a SMART goal would be:
- Specific: Practice breathing exercises
- Measurable: 10 minutes per day
- Achievable: Start with simple techniques
- Relevant: Helps manage physical anxiety symptoms
- Time-bound: For the next 2 weeks
What your SMART goal will look like:
“I will practice breathing exercises for 10 minutes each day for the next 2 weeks.”
In therapy:
- SMART goals are often set together with your therapist.
- This teamwork ensures your goals feel supportive, not overwhelming.
- Over time, these small, structured steps can help you feel more in control, reduce anxiety, and build a stronger sense of well-being.
Examples of medical schemes that cover therapy:
Many medical schemes in South Africa do cover therapy and mental health support, including help for anxiety. However, the level of cover depends on your specific scheme and plan.
Remember: It is important to always check your plan options with your medical scheme.
Discovery Health
- Covers therapy, psychiatry, and mental health programmes
- Offers dedicated mental health care programme and therapy support
Bonitas
- Offers mental health care programme with ongoing counselling support
- Covers anxiety, depression, and PTSD across plans
Momentum, Fedhealth, Medihelp, Bestmed and others
- Offer varying levels of therapy and psychiatric cover depending on the plan
Small consistent steps can lead to meaningful change! You don’t have to be perfect to make progress – it’s okay to take things one step at a time.
Health-Connect 6/2026