What is the Progressive Goal Attainment Program?

In 2000, Dr. Sullivan, developed the Progressive Goal Attainment Program (PGAP), a standardized risk-targeted behavioural activation intervention designed to reduce psychosocial risk factors for delayed recovery. PGAP was the first evidence-based intervention to focus on the reduction of pain-related psychosocial risk factors as a means of promoting recovery following musculoskeletal injury, along with reducing disability associated with pain, depression, PTSD, cancer and other chronic health conditions. As well, PGAP incorporates core elements of multidisciplinary rehabilitation such as mobilization, education and self-management skills into a program delivered by a single rehabilitation professional as opposed to a team of rehabilitation professionals.

Goals are achieved through targeted treatment of psychosocial risk factors, structured activity scheduling, graded-activity involvement, goal-setting, problem-solving, and motivational enhancement. PGAP is a cost-effective, standardized program which can be tailored to each client through its modular approach to treatment. Clients meet one-on-one with the occupational therapist during 10 weekly sessions. Initial treatment sessions focus on increasing activity participation, while later sessions focus on one of three modules which address the psychosocial barriers to the client’s return to increased function.