Solution-Focused Brief Therapy

Questions Counselors Ask:

About About About About problems mistakes causes feelings

About Solutions!

Why do most people go to counseling?

Solutions!

For how many sessions do most people go to counseling? (mode)

One!

Of the people who go to counseling for multiple sessions, what is the average number of visits they make? (mean)

3-7

Origins of SFBT
de Shazers family work in Milwaukee (1985) It is based on the work of Erickson (1954) Primary focus is to generate solutions to the client's problems from his/her complaints.

My Premise for this Session

There are times when priests can apply the principles of SFBT to the social, personal, & decision-making dilemmas of their parishioners.

COMPARISON OF Counseling APPROACHES TRADITIONAL SOLUTION-FOCUSED

Focus is on clients *deficits *weaknesses *limitations *problems Talk is focused on *clients problems *clients past & present *stability

Focus is on clients *competence *strengths *possibilities *attempted solutions Talk is focused on *possible solutions *clients future *change

COMPARISON OF Counseling APPROACHES TRADITIONAL SOLUTION-FOCUSED

Counselor looks for *enduring traits *causes Counselor is *expert *reactive *dabbler

Counselor looks for *exceptions *possible solutions Counselor is *student *active & interactive *intentional

COMPARISON OF Counseling APPROACHES TRADITIONAL SOLUTION-FOCUSED

Client is *student Counseling is *open ended *time unlimited Solutions are *outside the client

Client is *expert Counseling is *structured *time limited Solutions are *within the client

COMPARISON OF Counseling APPROACHES TRADITIONAL SOLUTION-FOCUSED

Goals are
*set by counselor *insight-oriented *absence of problems

Goals are
*set by client *behaviour-oriented *presence of solutions

3 Major Principles
Build co-operative relationship. Negotiate constructive focus for client's concerns/requests. Evoke client's existing skills, knowledge & resources.

MAJOR CHANGE PRINCIPLES

Co-operating Engaging with clients in ways which build & sustain collaborative relationships (rapport, nurturing, genuine, honesty,
optimism, positive, on-side).

Assumption: To the extent that clients feel accepted, understood, appreciated, respected, & safe in the Counseling setting, they will be more willing to contribute their energy & expertise to the conversation, & to access their own resourcefulness for change.

Negotiating Inviting clients to explore & describe their concerns & requests in ways which avoid verbal closure, establish a focus, & create a space for future possibilities (identify

things they can change, stay where you can make a difference, what can you live with).

Assumption: Prospects for therapeutic change will be enhanced by a conversational process in which clients are invited to describe their situation (concerns, requests, priorities) using a grammar of possibilities, rather than a grammar of problems, characterisations, accusations or recriminations.

Evoking Inviting clients to access, elaborate & draw upon areas of personal knowledge, experience, competence & imagination which will facilitate desired change (people are experts who have strengths/capacity, finds exceptions, guide client). Assumption: The process of therapeutic change tends to be more time-effective, self-generating, significant & satisfying when it enables clients to build upon existing knowledge, competencies, & language resources.

CO-OPERATING provides a context for... NEGOTIATING, which provides a context for... EVOKING, which enhances possibilities for change.

PROBLEM TALK
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder Anger problems Depressed Oppositional Rebellious Co-dependent Disruptive Family issues Shy Negative peer pressure Feelings of rejection Isolated

SOLUTION TALK
Very energetic at times, or short attention span Sometimes gets upset Sometimes sad Argues a point often Developing his/her own way People are important to them Often forgets the class rules Worries about home life Takes time to know people People try to influence them People forget to notice them Likes being by themselves

SFBT Critical Points

1. Nonpathological approach to open up possibilities. 2. Not necessary to promote insight in order to be helpful. 3. Not necessary to know a great deal about the complaint. 4. Clients have complaints, not symptoms. 5. Clients are more motivated when they define goals.

6. Snowball effect will occur when one person makes one change. 7. Complex problems do not have to necessitate complex solutions. 8. Fitting into the clients world-view lessens resistance & encourages cooperation. 9. Motivation is a key & can be encouraged by aligning with the client against the problem. 10. There is no such thing as resistance when we co-operate.

11. If it works don't fix it; if not, do something different. 12. Focusing on the possible & changeable lessens frustration. 13. Go slowly & focus on tasks that lead to success. 14. Rapid change is possible when we identify exceptions. 15. Change is constant.

16. Every complaint pattern contains some sort of exception, so keep looking. 17. Changing the time & place will change interactions & behaviors. 18. Looking at problems differently can encourage their resolutions. 19. What will be different when the problem is solved?

A Guide
Examine clients complaints carefully to determine if they behave as if they are trapped. Assist clients to alter complaints into solutions or exceptions when the complaint is "less" painful, non-existent, or not operative... Identify the solutions. Encourage client to share what happens in their life that they want to continue to happen. Provide clients with cues-focused therapeutic suggestions, tasks, or directives that lead in the direction of solutions.

Always search for exceptions to the clients complaints. Compliment client for their positive or proactive abilities. Ask client the "miracle question."

If there was a miracle one night while you were sleeping & your complaint was gone when you woke, how would you know? How would your significant others know? Your parents/friends?"
Ask client to rate themselves on how well they are implementing their solutions 1 to 10.

Major task is to help the client do something different. The focus on the problem is redirected toward solutions already existing. Only small change is necessary because any change, no matter how small, creates the context for further change. Goals are framed in positive terms with an expectancy for change.

KEY ELEMENTS
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Co-operation Utilization of client resources & strengths Exceptions to the problem Assumptive & presuppositional questions Use of compliments Assigning behavioral tasks Scaling

BRIEF THERAPY: STEPS

SALIENT SIMPLE SPECIFIC & CONCRETE THE PRESENCE OF SOMETHING PERCEIVED AS HARD WORK REALISTIC & ACHIEVABLE

TYPES of QUESTIONS
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. PRE-SESSION CHANGE GOAL-ORIENTED THE MIRACLE QUESTION EXCEPTIONS SCALING QUESTIONS ON-TRACK SUMMARY/BRIDGING COPING QUESTIONS

Questions
1. Pre-Session Change Questions Start to the solution. 2. Goal-Oriented Questions What is your goal in coming here? What would you like to change? What would you like instead? 3. Miracle Questions Fantasy about the solution. Miracle is a means to a goal. What do you need to do as a first step?

More Questions
4. Exception-Finding Questions Times when parts of these solutions are happening? Every problem has an exception capitalize & expand on them. Exceptions will replace problems. Resource model, NOT deficiency model.

Some More Questions

5. Scaling Questions How committed are you to solve the problem or find a solution? What would she say she needs to see you do, so she says you have moved up from a 2 to a 3? (this brings in absent members into the session) If 10 is when you are ready to leave, & 1 was when you phoned, where are you now?

How Scaling Questions Help

Quantify feelings, attitudes, motivations & thoughtshelp express thoughts, feelings & attitudes that are difficult to put into words. Allow better conceptualisation of present context & perspective Focus on achievement & solutions Instil a sense of change, progress & movement& client is in control of change & progress.

Scaling Questions Tips

With less verbal people (children), use an incremental response scale; Thermometer or Faces
e.g., very sad, bit sad, neutral/so-so, happy, very happy or
e.g., calm, bothered, frustrated, a little mad, very mad, furious

Even More Questions

6. On Track Lets say in the next few days your goal is not totally happening yet, but you are confident you are on track, what would tell you that you were making progress? 7. Summary/Bridging Do you think that as you continue to do these things that you would be on track to getting what you from coming here?

Final Questions
8. Coping Questions Chronic situations e.g., HIV/AIDS, physical disabilities, chronic mental illness, significant other is drug dependent. How do you cope each day? How do you manage to get up, instead of staying in bed? Looking for strengths & resources to amplify them.

RESISTENCE?!
People sometimes dont follow plans, NOT because they dont want to its just that they havent done these things before, & are not in a pattern; yet! Sometimes we need to help clients identify obstacles keeping them from being on the solution track

INVOLUNTARY CLIENTS
When a client is mandated or referred....the following questions are useful... What do you want from coming here? What does want from you coming here? Is some of this something you want as well? When says you do not have to come anymore, what will they say you are doing differently? When says you are 'on track' what will they say you are doing or doing differently?