Solution Focused Models

Question 1

Solution-focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)

Answer 1

-Pioneered by Steve de Shazer & Insoo Kim Berg
- future-focused; goal-oriented
-emphasizes strength/resliency in client by focusing on exceptions to their problems and conceptualized solutions
optimistic, antideterministic, future-oriented
-assumes clients have the ability to change quickly and can create problem-free language as they strive for a new reality

Question 2

SFBT: Key Concepts

Answer 2

• eschews past in favor of present and future
• focus on what is possible
• little interest in how problem emerged
• behavior change most effective approach to life enhancement
• assessing problems not necessary for change to occur
• if knkowing and understanding problems are unimportant, so is searching for “right” or absolute solutions.
• little attention to diagnosis, history taking, emergence of problem

Question 3

SFBT: Postive Orientation

Answer 3

• grounded on optimism. people are healthy & competent to construct solutions
• we already have ability to resolve life challenges
• therapists helps client recognize competencies
• shift clients’ perceptions by reframing problem-saturated stories through counselor’s skillful use of language

Question 4

SFBT: Looking for what is working

Answer 4

• what works in client’s life?
• pay yattention to exceptions to problem patterns
• find out what works, then apply knowledge

Question 5

SFBT: Basic Assumptions Guiding Practice

Answer 5

• clients are competent
• advantages to positive focus
• exceptions to very problem
• clients often present only one side of themselves
• no problem is constant; change inevitable
• clients are doing best to make change happen
• clients can be trusted in intention to solve problem

Question 6

SFBT: Characteristics

Answer 6

-3-8 sessions
-help client efficiently resolve problems and move forward as quickly as possible
rapid working alliance
clear goal specification
here & now orientation
emphasis on strengths

Question 7

SFBT: Therapeutic Process

Answer 7

• client is expert/has good sense of what does or doesn’t work
• collaborative rather than educative
• clients can generally build solutions to their problems w/out any assessment of the nature of their problems

Question 8

SFBT: Solution Building

Answer 8

1. client describes problems. therapist listens then asks, “how can I be useful to you?”
2. therapist works with client to develop goals asap. question posed “what will be diff in ur life when problems are solved?”
3. therapist asks about times problems were not present/were less severe. helps client explore these exceptions. special emphasis on what they did to make these events happen
4. at the end of each solution-building conversation, the therapist offers clients summary feedback, probides encouragement, suggests what clients might observe or do before next session to further solve problem.
5. evaluate progress by using rating scale. what needs to be done before they see their problem as being solved?

Question 9

SFBT: Therapeutic Goals

Answer 9

• goals are up to client
• clearly define goals at beginning
• small, realistic, achievable changes
• therapists assume a “not-knowing” position. client is expert

Question 10

SFBT: forms of goals

Answer 10

change viewing
change doing
tap strengths
tap resources

Question 11

SFBT: technique

Answer 11

look for differences in doing
exception questions
scaling questions
miracle question

Question 12

sfbt technique: pretherapy change

Answer 12

just scheduling appt can put change in motion

Question 13

sfbt technique: exception questions

Answer 13

when did problem not exist or was less intense?

Question 14

miracle question

Answer 14

“if a miracle happened and the problem you have was solved overnight, how would you know it was solved, and what would be different?”

Question 15

sfbt technique: scaling questions

Answer 15

used to gauge progress not easily observed

Question 16

sfbt technique: formula first session task (ffst)

Answer 16

form of homework a therapist might give clients to complete btwn first and second sessions. ask clients to observe in life that they want to continue

Question 17

sfbt technique: therapist feedback to clients

Answer 17

compose summary at end of each session. contains strengths, signs of hope, i.d. exceptions, commentary. 3 basic parts of summary: compliments, a bridge, and suggesting a task.

Question 18

sfbt technique: terminating

Answer 18

therapist mindful of termination from first session.ultimate goal is to end treatment

Question 19

SFBT

Answer 19

(SFBT) was developed by Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg from over the course of 20 years, from the 1960’s through the 1980’s. De Shazer’s work began with Milton Erickson, where he cultivated the idea that clients have the abilities within them to make the change needed for their desired outcome (De Shazer, 1985). De Shazer also realized that client difficulties could be linked to communication issues with people who are important to the client, therefore illustrating the importance of relationships.

Question 20

Human Nature

Answer 20

A. Both SFBT and Narrative hold the social constructivist influenced view that the client has within themselves, the ability, resources, tools, and skills to solve their own problems. Overall, they hold a positive view of human nature in which individuals can make choices to improve their lives.
B. Both approaches focus on a non-pathologizing approach in their work with clients. The focus is not on the problem, the history of the problem, or what others think of the problem. The focus is on the client’s experience with the problem, and how they would like that relationship to be different.
C. The counselor is expected to accept and be in the client’s worldview, without critique or evaluation, which is often referred to as “acting as if”. This allows the client to experience being heard which will help the client identify either:
1. What is working (SFBT)
2. Their story (Narrative)

Question 21

Interventions

Answer 21

A. Solution Focused Brief Therapy stays in the present with the client, unless exploring the past will yield answers to the current problem.

1. SFBT relies on exploring with the client what are they currently “doing right” or “WHAT IS WORKING?” In the event the client reports nothing is working in the present, the client and counselor would then explore, “what has worked in the past?” regarding the problem or a similar problem.
2. SFBT will also explore with the client any EXCEPTIONS to the problem. This allows the client and counselor to identify what behaviors or skills the client may have from past experiences that could be applied to the current experience.
3. Another technique is the MIRACLE QUESTION. The client is told to think about the following scenario: they go to bed like they do every other night, and while they are sleeping, a miracle occurs, and their most pressing issue is solved! The catch is that because they were sleeping, they have no idea how the problem was solved. The therapist asks the client, what would be different about their relationship with their significant other, family members, and co-workers. The counselor would also want to know what would change regarding how they feel, what they think, and what they did (de Shazer, 1986, de Shazer et al., 2007).
   a. This question is posed to help identify with the client what differences would occur in their world and which of these changes the client can make happen through goal setting.
4. It is important to note the CLIENT is viewed as the EXPERT on their world and experiences. The COUNSELOR is not viewed as an expert or authority on the client or their situation, rather as an expert collaborator with PROBLEM SOLVING.

Question 22

social-constructivist view

Answer 22

sfbt reflects the greater question of the era in which it developed