Learning Solution Focused Brief Therapy

Question 1

Solution Focus is about the outcome a client would get from having what they want. It is about the description from having the outcome.

Answer 1

What are the two things Solution Focus is about?

Question 2

The SFBT therapist has to know…

Answer 2

…. how to ask the next question.

Question 3

What kind of approach is Solution Focus Brief

Therapy?

Answer 3

Solution Focus Brief Therapy is a question based approach.

Question 4

What is SFBT is based on?

Answer 4

Curiosity… Not being nosy.

Question 5

The therapist can’t ask a question that…

Answer 5

… he doesn’t have the client’s permission to ask.

Question 6

Name the best way to get the client’s permission for asking a question.

Answer 6

Use a ‘Best Hope’ question.

Question 7

Name the two simple rules for practicing Solution

Focus.

Answer 7

1. The interviewer is 100% responsible for asking questions that produces useful answers. 2. The client takes ALL the credit for each and every useful answer.

Question 8

The contracting process starts with the end in mind.

True or False.

Answer 8

True. We aren’t interested in the origin of the client’s problem.

Question 9

The contracting process is therapist led.

True or False.

Answer 9

False. It is a client led contract that is forward looking.

Question 10

What three things does the therapist assume about his client when working with Solution Focus Brief Therapy?

Answer 10

The assumptions are 1. The client has a good reason for being there. 2. They are motivated. 3. They need to be taken seriously.

Question 11

What is not the Solution Focus Brief Therapy approach to solving the client’s problem?

Answer 11

A problem description or even its recognition is not required in Solution Focus. The therapist doesn’t have to know the problem in order for the situation to become better.

Question 12

What is a contracting process? What is desired outcomes?

Answer 12

Other names for the Best Hopes process.

Question 13

Establish a client led contract. Assumes the client has a good reason for being there. Assumes they are motivated. We take the client seriously. Does not require a problem description. It’s about the presence of something.

Answer 13

What are the qualities of a good Best Hopes process?

Question 14

Nothing else is done until this question is answered.

Answer 14

What are your best hopes… From this session. …From this meeting. …From our work together. …From (whatever).

Question 15

Must be…The same as their partner’s or … We are looking for one response that we can use to help them. Responses have to be able to co-exist with their partner’s response. Must be concrete and observable.

Answer 15

What are the guidelines for Best Hopes Answers with Couples.

Question 16

Remember - It’s not the client’s job to make my job easier. My job is to ask useful and helpful questions

Answer 16

How does the therapist handle challenging responses?

Question 17

“I don’t know”
“I don’t really want to be here”
“We are just here so that we can tell our children we tried everything”
“I’m not in love with my partner anymore”

Answer 17

Name some challenging responses.

Question 18

We are interested in the client’s ____ words. We don’t want to ________.

Answer 18

exact / paraphrase.

Question 19

How do we know when we have a preferred outcome?

Answer 19

The desired outcome is going to be the presence of in the preferred future question. You move on when you feel you can build a ‘tomorrow question’ based on their response.

Question 20

Name the two questions the therapist asks each session.

Answer 20

The best hopes question. Also known as desired outcome. And the preferred future question. Also known as the miracle question.

Question 21

What’s the difference between speaking to your client’s heart and having a client centered approach?

Answer 21

SFBT’s speaking to someone’s heart is more specific and based on language.

Question 22

What do you have to elicit when using exception?

Answer 22

You have to elicit a description of its circumstances: when, where, who is around, what does your client
actually do differently and the impact each difference makes – smallest step by smallest step.

Question 23

What are you doing when you are exploring exceptions with a client?

Answer 23

You are uncovering exceptions that to your client’s problem.

Question 24

What are you doing when you are exploring instances with a client?

Answer 24

You are looking for instances of the preferred

future already happening.

Question 25

How does the act of uncovering instances help your client?

Answer 25

Your client will be focusing on the development of a skill they would like to have more of.

Question 26

What is needed when instances is used?

Answer 26

To be able to draw from a preferred future detail description.