Solution-Focused Therapy
Lisa Chock Charles Flemister Brenna Mlinar Ami Hickmon
The roots of SFBT start with Milton Erickson who really got the ball rolling for brief therapy with emphasize on solutions The Mental Health Institute in Palo Alto, CA also had a hand in wanting a more briefer, goal-oriented and pragmatic approach (Visser, 2013)
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) was founded by Insoo Kim Berg and Steve de Shazer in the late 1970s Berg and de Shazer were based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They also co-founded the Brief Family Therapy Center (BFTC) in 1978
At the BFTC, Berg, de Shazer, and co. did experiments to decide what worked best in therapy Through this process and other readings they came up with SFBT
SFBT is described as goal-directed which focuses on solutions, instead of the issues of the clients Basically its like looking towards what you want out of therapy instead of dwelling on the reason you came to therapy. Where would you like to go and well create steps together to get you there
SFBT has been used for counseling and has been used largely in addiction counseling Throughout the years SFBT was employed in other settings than in therapeutic ones Usage in businesses, educational institutions, and many other fields
Solution focused : Basic concepts
First thing to consider: Solution focused does not worry about the cause or the problem as much as other types of therapy. Looking at the problem can confuse the counselor and client.
Basic concepts continued
Focus on the clients strength. Knowing what they can utilize to solve their problems
Still continued
Over arching principle: Clients at one point in there lives have solved problems using their own resources. Counselors are a guide/reminder
Last one I swear
Pragmatism: Three Rules
1. If it isnt broken dont fix it 2. If it works keep using it 3.If it isnt working use something else
Techniques
Main Points:
Looking at the cause of the problem is irrelevant to client change. Talking about the problem itself:
Mires the counselor and client in unnecessary conversation Results in client discouragement Results in feelings of hopelessness
Managed care, and efficient clinical practice
Approach based on 5 basic assumptions:
If it doesnt work, do something different, and if it works, do more of it. Clients have the strengths and resources to change. Client problems result from not recognizing alternatives rather than underlying pathology. A small change in any aspect of a problem begins the process of solving it. Change comes from focusing on future possibilities and solutions.
Process Outline
Client has hired the counselor to facilitate solution finding as efficiently as possible Several sessions, however rarely more than 10 NOT problem talking Solution talk focused
5 Main Techniques
The Miracle Question Pretending Exception Finding Scaling Questions Task Assignments
The Miracle Question
If by some miracle the problem no longer existed, what would be different and how would I know? Clarity and concreteness about what life would be like if the problem were solved Client imagines a story of how life would be, and within the story lies the solution
Pretending
Strategy that Madanes preferred when working specifically with children that are disruptive. Shifting power within the family Changing the style of interaction in the family Posing paradoxical tasks i.e. client is given instructions that the counselor hopes he will disobey
Exception Finding
Playing detective: search for a time in the clients life when the problem did not occur Find how the client employed an effective solution during that time Helps create a solution for the situation they are in now
Scaling Questions
The counselor asks the client to rate their progress in achieving their goals Numbers 1-10, scale allows the counselor to set point goals for client Used to collect meaningful data about the nature of the problem Questions are critical as interventions to encourage clients to take different actions
Task Assignments
Client must perform certain tasks between sessions Ask clients to repeat the strategies unearthed in the exception finding intervention Recreate in their daily life details of the story that helped them answer their miracle question response The emphasis is on formulating goals tailored specifically to match the clients personal strengths and problem-solving capabilities.
Strengths
A focus is placed solely on finding a solution to the clients problem Solving one problem leads to solving others
Other symptoms can be improved
Clear goals are identified in the beginning
Easier to identify an end
Weaknesses
Possibly elpful only because of a placebo effect. Clients may not grow or learn Some clients need to talk about and explore their problems Self-understanding is emphasized Difficult to research Many of the strategies are difficult to learn and apply
(Kottler, 176)
Sources
Antin, L. (2013, 05 14). Solution focused therapy. Retrieved from http://www.goodtherapy.org/Solution_Focused_Therapy.html Dolan, Y. (n.d.). What is solution-focused therapy? . Retrieved from http://www.solutionfocused.net/solutionfocusedtherapy.html Insoo Kim Berg. What is solution-focused brief therapy (sfbt)?. Retrieved from http://sfbta.org/about_sfbt.html Kottler, J. A., & Shepard, D. S. (2011). Introduction to counseling: voices from the field (7th ed.). Belmont, Calif.: Brooks/Cole ;. Langer, S. (n.d.). Solution-focused breif therapy: What is it & what's the evidence?. Retrieved from http://casat.unr.edu/docs/StephenLanger_SolutionFocusedBriefTherapy Visser, C. (2013). The origin of the solution-focused approach. International Journal of Solution-Focused Practices, 1(1), 10-17.
