Why you should read this article:

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To understand the role of individual formulation in mental health practice

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To recognise how formulation can be used to understand, plan and implement service user care

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To learn about two transdiagnostic models of formulation that you could use in your practice

Formulation is a collaborative process that promotes shared understanding of a service user’s narrative to ensure their care is meaningful. This article provides an overview of individual formulation in mental health practice. It explores the interaction between formulation and interventions, and how mental health practitioners can work with service users by using formulation to plan and implement care. The article also presents two models of formulation – the five-area and 5Ps models – and explains how these can be used across a wide range of clinical presentations to understand a service user’s immediate problems and longer-term challenges, thus supporting the selection of appropriate evidence-based interventions.