Active Planning: Mapping the territory and navigational skills for AMBIT-influenced work

Abstract

This chapter, comprising three sections, is the first of two (with Chapter 4) covering the work with clients. The first section covers planning and the maintenance of purpose and progress in work that take place in chaotic, changing, and confusing territory. The second section covers the phases of AMBIT work, laying out a broadly generic “map of the journey” with key processes and challenges (initial engagement, assessment, formulation, and goal-setting, followed by a second phase of active intervention and reviewing, then phases of work on sustaining and consolidating gains, in preparation for ending). The final section describes how a mentalizing stance can be held in relation to goal-setting and planning, explicitly balancing this rather concrete, task-focused work with the two other processes of “broadcasting intentions” (to evoke support and collaboration) and “sustaining sensitive attunement” (to maintain engagement and trust). Tools to support these activities are offered.