172 THE SEVERE AND PERSI STENT MENTAL ILLNESS PROGRESS NOTES PLAN NER E. As the client has been assisted in developing better coping mechanisms, he/she reports a decrease in his/her negative feelings related to his/her pattern of severe and persistent mental illness symptoms and their effect on the relationships. F. The client's emotions continue to confuse him/her, and additional support and clarification were given. 19. Facilitate Conjoin t Sessions ( 19) A. Both partners were asked to commit themselves to a series of conjoint sessions to address issues of communication and problem solving. B. Both partners were supported for agreeing to the conjoint sessions to work toward strengthening t heir relationship. C. Both partners were assisted in clarifying their communication and expression of feelings within conjoint sessions. D. Both partners have reported that they have increased the quality and frequency of communication with each other du e to the conjoint sessions. E. Both partners have not committed to regularly attending conjoint sessions and were redirected to commit themselves in this area. 20. Teach Healthy Communication Skills (2 0) A. The client and his/her partner were taught hea lthy communication skills (e. g., expressing specific positive and negative emotions, making requests, communicating information clearly, giving “I” messages, and implementing active listening). B. The client and his/her partner were reinforced for display ing increased understanding of the communication skills that were being taught. C. The use of healthy communication skills by each partner was reviewed. D. The client and his/her partner have failed to regularly use appropriate healthy communication skills, and they were redirected to use these types of skills. 21. Identify Mistrust Due to Mental Illness (2 1) A. The client and his/her partner were focused on identifying trust issues that are attributable to mental illness symptoms. B. The client and hi s/her partner were assisted in identifying how specific mental illness symptoms (e. g., paranoia or mania) have caused mistrust within the relationship. C. The nonvolitional aspects of the client's mental illness symptoms were emphasized during the discuss ion of trust issues and mental illness symptoms. D. The client and his/her partner have not been able to consistently identify trust issues as being attributable to mental illness symptoms and were provided with additional feedback in this area. 22. Expl ore Closeness Vulnerability (2 2) A. Each partner's fears regarding getting too close and feeling vulnerable to hurt, rejection, and abandonment were explored. B. The partners have clarified their own fears of getting too close to each other out of fear o f being hurt and were accepted for this insight. C. The partners were assisted in identifying experiences in their past that have contributed to their fear of closeness. 