diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index 8d491ec..61c0b75 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -882,11 +882,25 @@ Always run `git push` immediately after every `git commit`.
 
 Every non-trivial implementation (anything beyond a one-line fix or doc change) **must** follow this workflow:
 
+#### 0 — Mandatory planning phase (REQUIRED before any code changes)
+
+Before touching any code, present a written plan and **wait for explicit user approval**. Do not open files to edit, do not create branches, do not write code until the user says the plan is approved.
+
+The plan must include:
+- **What** is changing and **why**
+- **Which files** will be created or modified (with paths)
+- **Database / migration impact** (if any)
+- **API contract changes** (new endpoints, changed schemas)
+- **Frontend route / component changes**
+- **Risks or non-obvious decisions**
+
+Only proceed to step 1 after the user responds with explicit approval (e.g. "looks good", "go ahead", "approved").
+
 #### 1 — Create a feature branch
-After the planning phase is approved, branch off `main`:
+After the planning phase is approved, branch off `main`. Name the branch after the title of the change — use lowercase words separated by hyphens, descriptive enough to understand at a glance what the branch does:
 ```bash
 git checkout main && git pull
-git checkout -b feat/<slug>   # e.g. feat/color-mode, feat/admin-appearance
+git checkout -b feat/<descriptive-title>   # e.g. feat/user-profile-avatar-upload, feat/document-bulk-delete
 ```
 
 #### 2 — Spin up an isolated Docker stack for the feature