Solution-Focused and Narrative Therapy (Week 12)

Question 1

Who are the key figures in Solution-focused Therapy?

Answer 1

Steve deShazer
Insoo Kim Berg

Question 2

Who are the key figures in Narrative Therapy?

Answer 2

Michael White
David Epston

Question 3

What is the key focus of Solution-focused and Narrative Therapies?

Answer 3

Problems are maintained by problem-focused constructions and conversations occurring within and between people.

Question 4

What are “problem talk” in Solution-focused and “problem-saturated stories” Narrative Therapies?

Answer 4

These tend to equate problems with personhood. Problems are discussed as if they are within a person, always occurring, and outside of one’s ability to influence. This invites a perspective that is discouraging, demoralizing, and dehumanizing. The idea is that the more a problem receives focus, the more it grows.

Question 5

What are “strengths” in Solution-focused and Narrative Therapies?

Answer 5

These may include resources in a person’s life personally, relationally, financially, socially, spiritually, etc.

These can be assessed by directly asking the client about areas of life that are going well, by recognizing that weaknesses/problems often correspond with associated resources, and by listening carefully for exceptions unique to problems and for areas where resources may go unnoticed.

Question 6

What are “exceptions” in Solution-focused and “unique outcomes” in Narrative Therapy?

Answer 6

Identified incidences (present or past) of when the problem has been nonexistent or less intense, or times when what is desired/preferred has been present, even minimally or momentarily.

These confirm that (1) what’s wanted is attainable, (2) what “works” is already within the client’s repertoire, and (3) the client can access strengths and resources to make it happen.

The client may need to be prompted to reflect on these incidents:
Tell me about times when the problem is less likely to occur or is less severe.
Tell me about a time when you expected the problem to occur but it didn’t.
Tell me about what you do/what others do that seem to make things better.
Tell me about places or times when the problem is not as bad.

Question 7

What are “dominant discourses” in Narrative Therapy?

Answer 7

Culturally-generated narratives about life that are oppressive in nature, contributing to the problem-saturated story and negatively influencing one’s sense of self. Focus is on what one “should” want.

Question 8

What are “local discourses” in Narrative Therapy?

Answer 8

Narratives that tend to come from more marginalized sources, contributing to preferred narratives and positively influencing one’s sense of self. Focus is on what one “does” want.

Question 9

What are the goals of Solution-focused Therapy?

Answer 9

To decrease problem-talk and increase solution-talk

(Thereby increasing client’s sense of self-agency, identifying goals that reflect outcomes that the client sees as desirable and preferable, identifying and discussing exceptions to the problem and using those experiences to identify what works, and repeatedly identifying, attending to, and discussing client’s strengths and resources).

Question 10

What are the goals of Narrative Therapy?

Answer 10

To deconstruct the client’s problem-saturated story and re-author the client’s life to reflect their preferred narrative.

(Thereby increasing client’s sense of self-agency, identifying goals that reflect outcomes that the client sees as desirable and preferable, identifying and discussing exceptions to the problem and using those experiences to identify what works, and repeatedly identifying, attending to, and discussing client’s strengths and resources).

Question 11

What characterizes the therapeutic relationship in Solution-focused and Narrative Therapy?

Answer 11

Non-expert oriented, collaborative role for therapist.

Beginner’s mind (therapist is the co-constructor of solutions in SFT or the investigative reporter/co-author in NT).

The client’s perspective is privileged.

“The problem is the problem.” (Therapist meets people separately from their problems in NT).

Strengths and resources are assumed and acknowledged consistently.

Question 12

What is a “formula first session task” in Solution-focused therapy?

Answer 12

This intervention is given to every client before or after the first session. The assignment is to notice things in your life that are going well/that you don’t want to change.

Question 13

What are “exception questions” in Solution-focused therapy?

Answer 13

An intervention in asking clients to identify instances in which the problem was not present.

Question 14

What is a “miracle question” in Solution-focused therapy?

Answer 14

An intervention asking client to build vision for what life would look like if the problem were no longer an issue. The key is to ask follow-up questions to get client to identify concrete, actionable behaviors that could help the client experience their goal sooner rather than later.

Question 15

What is a “scaling question” in Solution-focused therapy?

Answer 15

An intervention asking client to identify a number that represents where they are on a scale of 1-10. How did you get to this number? What could you do to increase it by 1? What number could you aim for?

Question 16

What is a “coping question” in Solution-focused therapy?

Answer 16

An intervenion asking a client about their coping strategies. “How are you able to keep going?” “What made you decide to address this issue?” “How have you kept this from getting worse?”

Question 17

What are “pre-suppositional questions” in Solution-focused therapy?

Answer 17

Asking a client questions that assume they’ve already achieved the wanted change–these are similar to “miracle questions.”

Question 18

What is “externalizing the problem” in Narrative therapy?

Answer 18

An intervention that separates the person from the problem.

Question 19

What is “mapping the influence of the problem and persons” in Narrative Therapy?

Answer 19

An intervention that examines how the person has affected problem and the problem has affected the person.

Question 20

What is “identifying the preferred narrative and unique outcomes” in Narrative Therapy?

Answer 20

An intervention in Narrative Therapy asking client, “How have you been able to fight back?”.

Question 21

What is “re-membering conversations” in Narrative Therapy?

Answer 21

An intervention in Narrative Therapy similar to the “empty chair.” Invites clients to “bring” significant others into the therapy room, people who champion “local,” not “dominant” discourse. Narrative therapists believe in power of language and community. You re-constitute understanding of self, identity, understanding of problem. You may also have to acknowledge people who bring up dominant discourse—and you may need to “downgrade their membership” or even cancel it. And may need to upgrade people who support preferred narrative.

Question 22

What is “letter writing” in Narrative Therapy?

Answer 22

An intervention in Narrative Therapy in which a therapist may bring up an issue the client has raised and suggest the client write a letter to the problem or person. This may be a manifesto of sorts.

Question 23

What are “leagues” in Narrative Therapy?

Answer 23

Narrative Therapy-based groups in which people band together to fight against a shared problem (anti-bullimia, anti-addiction).

Question 24

What are “definitional ceremonies and certificates” in Narrative Therapy?

Answer 24

An intervention in Narrative Therapy in which the client would be encouraged to invite significant others to come to session and talk about experiences with problem and their narrative to combat against it. The hope is that doing so will promote accountability.

With kids, this may translate into paper recognition of their success in combatting a problem—temper tamer, worry warrior.

Question 25

What are “reflecting teams” in Narrative Therapy?

Answer 25

An intervention in Narrative Therapy in which a team of therapists observe and may intervene in therapy from behind glass. There is typically a break in the session during which the therapist team may offer suggestions for change.

Narrative therapists do not like secrecy and strategy. Instead, they prefer the team of therapists to confer with the client and original therapist listening in. Observations would be hopeful and positive. Then client would have opportunity to respond to whatever therapy team discussed.

These interventions usually happen at a training center.