Transcript Chapter 15 Solution-Focused Therapy

Chapter 15
Solution-Focused Therapy
Solution-Focused Therapy
One of the most recent theoretical
developments in the field of counseling.
 Although it grew out of strategic therapy,
it differs in that it concentrates on
finding solutions instead of dealing with
problems.

Steve deShazer
Identifies his theory as brief family
therapy.
 In the late 1970s, was involved in the
establishment of the Brief Family
Therapy Center.
 Employs a team in his work whenever
possible and describes it as an
ecosystemic approach.

Bill O’Hanlon
Entered the therapeutic world because
of his interest in his own life. As an
adolescent he was unhappy and shy
and as a college student he felt isolated
and uncomfortable in the world.
 In 1980, he set out to become a major
proponent of solution-focused theory,
which he now prefers to call possibility
therapy.
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View of Human Nature/Personality

Built on the philosophy of social
constructionism – it includes social context or
cultural context of people or families.
 Constructivism – reality is not an objective
entity, but a reflection of observation and
experience.
 At the foundation is the belief that
dysfunctional people get “stuck” in dealing
with problems and use unsatisfactory
methods to solve their difficulties.
View of Human Nature/Personality
Major premise is that people really want
to change.
 A final concept underlying the approach
is that only a small amount of change is
necessary.

Roles of the Counselor/Therapist
Construct solutions in collaboration with
clients.
 Determine how active clients will be in
the process of change.
 Act as a “facilitator of change” by
enabling clients to access resources
they already have but are not aware of

(Cleveland & Lindsey, 1995).

Positive assumptions about change are
constantly conveyed to clients.
Roles of the Counselor/Therapist
Mapping, or sketching out, of the course
of successful intervention.
 Encourage individuals and families to
make small changes and to do so
rapidly.
 Do not distinguish between short- and
long-term problems, because such a
distinction is irrelevant.

Goals
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Concentrates on encouraging clients to seek
solutions and tap internal resources.
Unlock set views, be creative,and generate
novel approaches.
Identifying what is a problem and what is not
a problem is key.
Emphasize general ways of behaving and
viewing situations.
Orient towards the future, change focus, and
reframe situations properly.
Process and Techniques

The focus, and hence the techniques, are on
solutions, not problems.
 Co-creation of a problem – for the therapeutic
process to be productive an agreement must
be made as to which problem must be
solved.
 Miracle Questions – one manner in asking
clients for a hypothetical solution to their
situation.
Process and Techniques

Does not focus on a detailed personal or
family history of problems.
 A foundational belief of this approach is that
causal understanding is unnecessary.
 Focus on Exceptions – look for “negative” or
“positive” space.
 Scaling – where questions are asked using a
scale of 1 (low) to 10 (high) to help clients
move towards their goals.
Interventions
1.
“Between now and next time we meet,
we (I) want you to observe,so that you
can tell us (me) next time, what
happens in your (life, marriage, family,
or relationship) that you want to
continue to happen.”
2.
“Do something different.”
Interventions
3.
4.
5.
“Pay attention to what you do when
you overcome the temptation or urge
to … perform the symptom or some
behavior associated with the
complaint.”
“A lot of people in your situation would
have…”
“Write, read, and burn your thoughts.”
Gender-Sensitive Issues
Solution-focused therapy has made
strides in recent years to make itself
more sensitive to and applicable for
different cultural groups.
 Solution-focused therapy is also
sensitive to gender issues.

Strengths and Contributions
Concentrates on, and is directed by, a
person’s or family’s theory (i.e, their
story).
 Assists individuals and families in
defining their situations clearly,
precisely, and with possibilities.
 The past is not emphasized, except
when it calls attention to the present.
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Strengths and Contributions
Does not focus on clinical
understanding of clients’ situations by
either clients or therapists…focus is on
change.
 Empowering and meant to assist in
assessing and utilizing resources.
 Achievable goals are emphasized.
 Extremely flexible.

Limitations and Criticisms
Virtually no attention is paid to the
history of people.
 Ends when an agreed-on behavioral
goal is reached.
 Due to the use of teams in helping
clients, the expense of treatment can be
very high even if fewer sessions are
required than in other approaches.
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The Case of Linda:
Solution-Focused Therapy

How would you conceptualize this case
using solution-focused therapy?

What would be your treatment plan for
this client using a solution-focused
approach?