Goal Management Training
at the TRRU
What is Goal Management Training (GMT)?
GMT is a brief, skills-based program that teaches people to pause, refocus, set priorities, and follow through on goals. Sessions blend simple mindfulness with practical, real-life exercises and take-home activities. Typical programs run weekly for 9 weeks with facilitator-led practice and participant workbooks.
What is Post-traumatic Stress?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or symptoms of trauma-related stress are conditions that can occur after a person has experienced an event that made them feel extremely frightened or stressed, known as a traumatic event. Examples of such events can include physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, car accidents, and more recently, working in public safety roles during the COVID-19 pandemic. 68.1% to 89.6% of individuals are exposed to potentially traumatic events over the course of their lifetime.
People experiencing post-traumatic stress may often feel overwhelmed by memories of what happened, try to avoid things that reminds them of the trauma, stay on high alert for danger, and may struggle with managing their emotions.
These individuals may often also face cognitive (or, thinking) problems, such as trouble with remembering things, focusing, or planning, which can make everyday life harder.
Unfortunately, there has not been much research on how to best treat these cognitive challenges. At the TRRU, we are committed to advancing the treatment of such trauma-related symptoms.
Why GMT for
Post-traumatic Stress?
After trauma, many people struggle not only with emotional distress but also with changes in how they think and function day to day. They may find it hard to focus, remember things, plan ahead, or stay organized—skills we rely on to work, care for ourselves, and connect with others. These thinking challenges, known as executive functioning difficulties, may persist even after emotional symptoms begin to improve.
Goal Management Training (GMT) was designed to help strengthen these very skills. It teaches simple, step-by-step strategies to pause, focus attention, set clear goals, and follow through on tasks.​ Previous research shows that GMT can improve thinking, cognitive flexibility, daily functioning, and mental health symptoms across various conditions, including posttraumatic stress and depression.
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At the TRRU, we adapted this approach into Trauma-Informed Goal Management Training (TIGMT)—a 9-week program tailored to the unique needs of people recovering from trauma. TIGMT combines cognitive skill-building with mindfulness and information about common trauma responses.
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By supporting both thinking and emotional regulation, this program helps participants rebuild focus, confidence, and everyday functioning—key steps in recovery after trauma.
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How We Have Adapted GMT for Trauma
Over the past several years, our team at the Trauma and Recovery Research Unit has been working to refine and adapt Goal Management Training (GMT) to better support individuals living with post-traumatic stress. We’ve conducted a series of studies exploring how GMT can be enhanced through neuroscience, trauma-informed care, and social support.
GMT + Neurofeedback
Trauma-Informed GMT
(TIGMT)
TIGMT + Social Support
(TIGMT-Assist)
This study explored whether pairing GMT with neurofeedback-enhanced mindfulness training could help participants regulate brain activity, achieve a state of calm, and improve focus before GMT sessions. Participants completed brief neurofeedback exercises at home before each GMT session. Results showed that combining GMT with neurofeedback produced greater and longer-lasting improvements in trauma symptoms, cognitive functioning, and daily life than GMT alone.
Working with GMT’s original developers, and trauma researchers and clinicians, we created a Trauma-Informed version of GMT (TIGMT) tailored specifically to people recovering from trauma. This version includes information about PTSD symptoms, dissociation, and emotional regulation. It uses gentle mindfulness, relatable examples, and trauma-sensitive pacing to help participants rebuild focus, organization, and confidence in daily life. The study examines how these adaptations improve thinking, mental health, and daily functioning for individuals experiencing post-traumatic stress.
Trauma recovery rarely happens in isolation. Building on TIGMT, the TIGMT-Assist study introduces a new psychoeducation module for a participant’s support person—such as a close friend or family member. In this program, participants still attend the 9 Trauma-Informed GMT sessions on their own, but their support person joins them for the "support person module". These sessions teach the support person about post-traumatic stress and how to encourage healthy coping and daily application of GMT skills, helping participants feel understood, supported, and more confident using what they’ve learned in real life.
More About Trauma Informed GMT
Developped in collaboration with the Quebec OSI Clinic, Trauma-Informed Goal Management Training (TI-GMT) builds on the original Goal Management Training (GMT) program but is specially adapted for individuals recovering from trauma or living with post-traumatic stress. While standard GMT focuses on improving attention, organization, and goal-setting, TI-GMT adds trauma-specific education, language, and mindfulness practices to make the program safer, more relevant, and more effective for trauma survivors.
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Key Adaptations
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TI-GMT includes psychoeducation about trauma-related concepts such as:
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PTSD symptoms: understanding re-experiencing, avoidance, and hyperarousal
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Dissociation: recognizing when the mind “checks out” under stress
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Window of Tolerance: learning how arousal levels affect thinking and emotional control
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Cognitive effects of trauma: understanding how intrusive memories, numbness, or high alertness can disrupt attention and memory
To increase comfort and relevance, the program:
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Adjusts examples to reflect experiences of trauma survivors
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Uses present-mindedness exercises (gentle mindfulness practices) that are more tolerable for people who may become distressed by standard mindfulness approaches
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Invites open discussion about how trauma affects daily thinking, relationships, and self-perception
Who We Work With
Over the years, our team has delivered and studied Trauma-Informed and standard Goal Management Training with a wide range of people affected by trauma. While each group faces unique challenges, many share common struggles with attention, memory, and planning after highly stressful experiences.
Our Studies
At the Trauma and Recovery Research Unit, we’ve been leading a series of studies to understand how GMT and TIGMT can best support people living with post-traumatic stress. Each study builds on the last, allowing us to refine the program and explore new ways to make it more effective, accessible, and relevant.
