Solution-Focused Helping: A Case Study

The relationship between therapist and client is collaborative and caring. Goals are set by the client with the help of the therapist. The therapy is very goal-orientated and specific. They then work together to assess and then change faulty beliefs that interfere with accomplishing these set goals. The basic goal is to remove biases or distortions that hinder the client from functioning effectively. Changing cognitive schemas can be done in three different ways; reinterpretation, modification, and restructuring.

 Solution focused therapy is a model of therapy developed by Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg in the late 1970's (Dolan, n.d.). This model has become well known for its non-traditional approach to client problems as it does not explore clients issues in relation to their cause and affect but rather the goals and solutions to achieving a future free of any present issues. i will be discussing the evident concepts, principles and intervention techniques of this particular model. it will be explored in the context of a case scenario of a therapy session to observe how the model can be actively applied to therapy sessions and why this is the best model to meet the client's needs. The effectiveness of the model

Solution-focused therapy is different from narrative and collaborative therapy because it focuses more on discovering solutions to problems by asking miracle and scaling questions (Goldenberg & Goldenberg, 2013). Solution-focused therapists utilize miracle and scaling questions to help clients change their thoughts and behavior. Miracle questions challenge clients to think about what their lives could be like if all their problems suddenly went away and were solved (Henderson & Thompson, 2016). Scaling questions challenge the client to magnify their view of the current circumstance (Goldenberg & Goldenberg, 2013). Solution-focused therapy is also different from narrative and collaborative therapy because the counselor leads the counseling session. Counselors lay out clear expectations for their clients to change, and expect them to actively participate in counseling so change occurs. The third difference between the three approaches is that solution-focused therapy is complaint-based, while narrative and collaborative therapy is not (Goldenberg & Goldenberg, 2013). Clients come to counseling with a complaint, and counselors typically work with those who ready and willing to change. Another difference is that solution-focused therapy consists of five steps, which are “co-constructing a problem and goal, identifying and amplifying exceptions, assigning tasks, evaluating effectiveness, and reevaluating problems and goals” (Goldenberg & Goldenberg, 2013, p. 382). Collaborative and narrative therapy do not follow these five

The solution-focused theory (SFBT) is not actually theory based, but was pragmatically developed (De Shazer, & Dolan, 2012). ). The reason why the social worker chose this approach during the interview was largely due to the fact that the patient doesn’t have an exact reason for her mild depression or drug abuse problem. The SFBT approach focuses on how a solution may not necessarily directly be related to the problem (De Shazer, & Dolan, 2012). SFBT focuses almost exclusively on the present and the future, the client is an optimistic person who does not believe that her problems are stemming from her past making this approach favorable to the social worker and the patient.

The client should be thinking of a time frame which they can reach within a certain time limit. The helper should support these and be a mediator for the client when they are setting their goals.

Empowering the person to make his own decisions about the strategies he wants to use in order to overcome the obstacles in his life is the core of the final stage of the skilled helping model. In this stage the person should think about setting targets for himself that he is comfortable with. If the counsellor disempower him by setting the targets without consulting the individual that can possess a barrier of resistance and no progress will

Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT) was drawn out from the work of Milton Erickson. Most people identify SFT with the variation work from Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg. Solution-focused therapy is a therapy that is action oriented and focuses on finding solutions. In SFT, the client is considered the expert (they know exactly what the problem is), and the client has the resources to find a solution. SFT does not focus on diagnoses or assessments but focuses on what the client brings to therapy. Depending on the client and the problem, SFT has a 50% successful rate. SFT has many techniques to use to assist in finding solutions for problems. These techniques range from questioning the client to having the client complete homework assignments.

This approach allows for a close relationship, which will foster trust, and will ensure that there is mutual understanding of the problem, and the best interventions in order to solve the problem (Henonin, 2010). This approach allows for the client to practice self-autonomy, by giving the client power over what interventions they believe will comprehensively solve the problem that is evident in their life (Henonin, 2010). Furthermore, the client and the social worker may have different understandings of the problem or circumstances that are taking place. Therefore, the first steps of the problem solving approach are crucial in fostering mutual understanding, in order to ensure that both the social worker and the client are on the same page before a proper intervention can be formulated (Henonin, 2010). Additionally, it is incredibly important that throughout the intervention, the social worker garners feedback, and performs “check-ups” with the client in order to ensure that the intervention is having a positive impact (Henonin, 2010). Performing routine check ups, ensures that interventions are working properly, and the client’s voice remains heard. Furthermore, routine check ups ensure that the social worker completely understands the problem at hand, and can be privy to any new information regarding the circumstances of the

A therapist assist each client to set individualized goals, the following goals appertain to all clients. Clients are to live a drug-free lifestyle; improve their social skills build up their self-esteem, become motivated and develop personalized prevention plan (New Horizons Community Mental Health Center, 2014).

The first main task of being a helper to clients is to try to develop a rapport with them so that they will be willing to open up to the helper about their problem. This could help to remove that possible mental barrier which could be there so that the engagement process may begin in a positive way for the clients which are in need of interventions. In my opinion, there is a bond with the helpers and their clients, however, it should always be in a professional manner and honored by ethical standards. The helper should always try to make a genuine and empathetic connection with their clients as well so that the healing process may begin. I believe the clients should have the realization that their helpers are there to advocate for them and that they are not there to judge or to criticize them.

This is the ‘how’ stage. How will the client move forward with the goals that they have identified in the previous stage? The counsellor will assist the client in finding ways of achieving their goals and how to focus on those that are practical in terms of the client situation and needs. The basic goals in the skilled helper model is relating to the clients is managing their lives more effectively and general ability to manage problems and develop opportunities. The view of the client in this model is that they are central to the therapy. (The client is the focus and the theory is the background and to use the model for the client, rather thee reverse).

The therapist’s role is to lead the client to behavioral change and to assist in an effective and efficient way. Solution focused therapist believe that the client is the expert in their own life and are capable to solve their

Consultee-centred Case Consultation primary goal is remediating consultees work-related difficulty; client improvement is secondary sources of consultee difficulty: lack of knowledge, skill, confidence, objectivity, due to: direct personal involvement simple identification transference characterological distortion theme interference (Friend, 2016)

Clarification and agreement around the client’s goals represents a starting point for collaborative exploration of multiple ways in which these goals can be attained. Goal setting offers a platform for both therapist and client to resolve any differences through collaborative dialogue which reflects their mutual intentions and understandings (Clark, 1996) Goals can be defined as immediate, those which help to achieve longer term goals, goals to be worked on in therapy and long term or life goals (Hanley, Sefi & Ersahin, 2016) A client may formulate life goals including non-specific, contradictory, avoidant, unattainable or no life goals, which can then be broken down into therapeutic goals and the therapist will have her own goals as well

The goal for therapy should be to create a second order of change. My therapy goals are heavily rooted in solution-based therapy. In this sense, the goal of therapy is to “unstick people from their current patterns and perceptions and help them discover new, concrete possibilities for their immediate futures” (Bitter, 2009, p. 223) Goal-making in my eyes is a collaborative process between therapist and client. It’s the therapist’s role to engage the client in optimistic conversations about the present and future and guide them toward goal-oriented solutions. This type of approach fits my personality as I am naturally upbeat and look for the positive exceptions in situations. Steve de Shazer believed that effective goals are: “small; meaningful to the client; described concretely; fit the actual lives of the participants; require in them that they are working hard; and start something