The Importance Of Solution-Focused Therapy

In conceptualising the development of the family system, Bowenian therapists are past-focused. They believe that emotional fusion that is passed down from one generation to the next is the cause of psychological problems (Nichols, 2010, pp 119-122). Normal family development according to Solution Focused therapist produces families with flexible structures, clear boundaries and well-organised hierarchies. This is quite similar to Bowenian’s concept of normal family development. Differentiated individuals after all need to have clear boundaries. Similarly, flexible structures and well-organised hierarchies do promote low anxiety and therefore generate positive emotional contact between family members. The difference is that instead of being past-focused, Solution Focused therapy assiduously avoids the past and focuses their clients as much as possible on the present and future. (Nichols, 2010, pp 321).

My first assumption of family therapy was to involve the parents and the individual that had the problem. This book explored further what it

Other Therapeutic Intervention: Incorporates family therapy to examine and facilitate family comprehension of new and old family dynamics, unhelpful patterns, and concerns in family configuration, and aid the family to practice and utilize communication and conflict resolution

Family therapy is a technique that has many alternative approaches to every aspect of treatment which Nichols (2014), states may present a challenge when describing a basic technique. The two models of family therapy in which I feel that I would be most effective and comfortable with would be, experiential family therapy and solution-focused brief therapy. I feel most comfortable with these models because, I adapt to the role of the therapist of both therapies naturally. According to Nichols (2014), when families seek therapy they are stuck in a life-cycle transition, sometimes they are obvious and sometimes they are not obvious. I’ve found that during the first session an excellent question is to ask the client why now so that they can

Although this family has suffered trauma, they have some strengths to draw upon that can benefit them in their therapeutic process. Both Raul and Nora grew up poor. However, they have both managed to go on and secure reputable careers. Raul as a Master Builder and Nora, as a Physical Therapist. This is evidence that they possess the skills that are needed to overcome adversity and negative cultural expectations. Solution-Focused Therapy would come into play so that the practitioner would engage in conversation to ask questions to help Raul and Nora realize their strength. “The practitioner 's role in the solution-focused process is continually to invite clients to explore and define two matters: (1) what it is they want different in their lives (goals) and (2) what strengths and resources they can bring to bear on making these desired differences a reality. The practitioner affirms and amplifies client definitions of goals, past successes, strengths, and resources as they emerge through conversation. Consequently, these conversations focus more on building solutions than on solving problems.” (Berg and DeJong, 1996).

The solution focused therapist does not act as a problem solver and “avoid[s] any assessment of problems or how they develop” (Grand Canyon, 2012). Instead the therapist listens for times the client did not have the problem or “exceptions” in their past that hold possible solutions for the future (Nichols, 2013, p. 252). Most importantly, during the process of listening, setting goals, identifying solutions and encouraging the client, a solution focused therapist must maintain attitude that is “positive, respectful, and hopeful” (Trepper, et. al.

The entire solution-focused approach was developed mainly in an inner city mental health service setting in which clients were accepted without any previous screenings. By watching what seemed to happen to families and couples right before they had the problem or breakdown, seems to be key in being able to pinpoint and focus on the present for a solution. Research has found that even though solution focused therapy is an inductively developed model, from its earliest beginning, there has been consistent interest in assessing the solution focused therapy’s effectiveness. Given the clinical premise behind this theory and the approach in which it is

In continuing the strategies of Solution-focused therapy, Yarhouse informed of other scholars “in their discussion of theories of psychotherapy in which, O’Hanlon and Weiner-Davis (1989) help the reader move away from theory (“explanations”) to practice (“solutions.”) Additionally, “different theorists can have quite different viewpoints, in fact, “diametrically opposed views about crucial elements and techniques involved in successful therapy.” The main key in Solution focused family therapy is the process for changes and the “believe that problems exist primarily because of how families construe events taking place around

Solution-focused therapy is identified as an effective way of working with individuals and families, since it allows counselors to assist clients find solutions to their problems. The therapy is a type of brief counseling, which focuses on economy and efficacy. This type of therapy is referred to brief counseling for it is conceptually planned and time-focused counseling that purposefully and intentionally focuses on the therapeutic process (Burwell & Chen, 2006). Brief counseling is made up of nine major components or elements. These are limitation of time, limited goals of counseling, development of strong working alliance, maintenance of counseling focus throughout the process, and high level of counselor's activities. The therapy requires a counselor that is flexible, introduces interventions promptly, carries out assessments rapidly and early, and encourages clients to express their feelings (Burwell & Chen, 2006). Solution-based counseling is a form of brief counseling that is founded on hypnotherapy and family system therapy by Milton Erickson (Oravec, 2000). This research carries out an in depth analysis of solution-focused therapy. Of interest is the application of solution-focused therapy to family counseling and its success rate to this group.

Solution-focused therapy (SFT) is one among the many therapeutic approaches, which has its own benefits. First, it is refreshing as it focuses on human potential and growth by the therapist tapping into a client’s strengths and training them to use those strengths to cope (McCarthy & Archer, 2013). Second, the client is viewed as possessing the skills and capabilities, therefore, the therapist must take a step back, and not want to “fix” a client, rather assist by shifting the direction from the problem to their strengths (McCarthy & Archer, 2013). Third, SFT is of short duration lasting about 5 sessions, almost as much as other therapeutic sessions (McCarthy & Archer, 2013). Fourth, SFT is constantly changing and evolving, to personalize and individualize each session to each client, thus making it a great approach for clients of various multicultural backgrounds (McCarthy & Archer, 2013). Lastly, SFT can be beneficial to individuals that may need motivation, or a cheerleader/supporter. Through techniques which include “seeking exceptions to problems, mind mapping, accepting ownership of successes, cheerleading, scaling, overcoming obstacles to success, and constructing a counselor developed message that summarizes a counseling session for the client” (Fulthorp, 2015, p. 266).

Lisa is concerned that her father has been indulging in alcohol more often than usual, He and his wife Abby are at a cross roads in their marriage. They are both retired and since retiring they are unable to communicate effectively. Abby had a different plan in mind for their retiring phase she wants to travel and try new experiences. In solution focused therapy the client and professional begin by agreeing to solve a specific problem secondly they propose a hypothetical solution by asking a miracle question for example, If you were writing a memoir describing this time in your life and it was life was just what you expected what would write. Questions like these encourage clients to imagine a desired reality ((Gladding, 2013)).

I feel like solution-focused and solution oriented therapy is self-explanatory in the sense of they focus on the solution of the problem. I like the fact that solution-focused therapy focuses on the individual clients. I really like the eleven assumptions underlying solution-focused therapy especially “every client is unique” and “you cannot change clients; they can only change themselves”. Even though the other nine assumptions are as important, these two really stood out to me. I do believe that “every client is unique” the same every situation is different. In my opinion, what might work for one person, may not work for another person so we have to treat each client based on their unique needs. As a therapist, we can do everything possible

It can be stated that solution focused therapist believe that people are constrained by narrow views of their problems into perpetuating rigid patterns of false solutions (Nichols, 2013, p. 246). Meaning there are noteworthy benefits in concentrating on the positive and solutions for the imminent future. Concentrating on strong suits and resolution talk will upturn the probability that therapy will be short-term. Clients who come to therapy do have the capability to act efficiently. This capability however is momentarily obstructed by undesirable cognitions, however one must remember that there are exceptions to each problem. Clients are usually inclined to speak on one side of the problem. Solution focused therapists ask clients to vision

Hannah, Becca, Paige, and I presented on solution-focused theory. We developed and prepared our presentation together, rather than breaking up the work. This was advantageous as each group member knew all of the material, rather than merely understanding one section of material. In the presentation, I gave an overview of the therapy. I discussed that solution-focused therapy incorporates ideas from many disciplines and theories. I also highlighted a few of the key ideas, such as shifting focus from problems to solutions. Later in the presentation, I explained the concept of externalizing and personifying problems, and I described the social worker/client relationship in this theory.

This chapter focuses on a category of therapy known as Solution Focused therapy which is believed to have been founded from the works of scholars such as Steve de Shazer and Insoo Berg. Practitioners of this mode of therapy subscribe to the school of thought that people who seek therapeutic help are indeed capable of solving their problems as long as they can change their negative mentalities. This thus, explains the approaches used by solution-focused therapists to help clients concentrate on the positives in their lives rather than what is not working. According to these experts, how people deal with circumstances that face them is based on how they perceive situations or give meaning to a particular behaviour (O'Hanlon, 1989). Solution