Brenda Harrison

 Changing Lives Through Learning

Origins of Solution Focused Approach  Milton Erickson – Hypnotherapy – huge body of work  1970’s – Steve de Shazar & Insoo Kim Berg (Family Therapy Social Workers)  Why hypnotise?  Richard Bandler – co-founder of NLP  Human mind does not learn slowly – it learns quickly  Whole brain engagement – neuropathways strengthen the more they are used.

 Changing Lives Through Learning Solution Focused Conversations  About tomorrow -  Conversations about change - Language creates reality  Conversations about behaviour Not emotions. Feelings matter but don’t create change.  Practitioners believe in exceptions – curiosity is key  Create positive visions – make these real and meaningful  Not positive thinking!  Framing questions about solutions  Seek out resources – internal and/or external – use these!

 Changing Lives Through Learning Scaling  Scaling tools are used to identify differences/exceptions – MHQ can be viewed this way  Little to be achieved by focusing on the pathology of the problem.  Focus on when the problem is not happening because the problem does not occur 100% of the time.  Change the narrative – create solutions  Neuro pathways strengthen through use – use the whole brain for solutions

 Changing Lives Through Learning Solution Focused Conversations  Suggestions to take away:  Would this be a useful addition to your skills toolkit?  What do you need to do to integrate this approach?  How can you measure the impact/difference this approach is making?