Table of Contents Adjustment disorder, by definition, is a
short-term difficulty that rarely goes beyond 6 months.
Lingering feelings may occur beyond that time, but those are
natural and likely not to be severe enough to require additional
attention or treatment. It often helps treatment progress (and
is required in many agencies) to put together a firm but
realistic treatment plan, so the patient can also see the short-
term nature of the therapy. Clinicians should be careful not to
lapse into acting as an advice-giver to individuals who suffer
from an adjustment disorder. The exact content and type of
therapy used will vary widely. Treatment will often emphasize
the importance of social support within the client's life,
alternative activities to explore or to find meaning in,
increasing a person's range and effectiveness of coping skills,
learning better ways of dealing with stress, etc. If stress is
an issue, therapy may also offer relaxation training and
techniques and examine methods for reducing stress.