Solution Focused Therapy Leslie Hollenbeck Meggen Sixbey Steve de Shazer Insoo Kim Berg

What is Solution Focused Therapy? A therapy that produces rapid change A therapy that is reported to have a higher degree of client satisfaction A therapy that is extremely effective in very little time                                   

Other Practitioners Like it Because… It is easy to understand and to apply The cost per client is comparatively lower, attracting HMO’s

History SFBT grew out of the Mental Research Institute’s (MRI) model of Strategic Therapy Steve de Shazer – main theory developer

Similarities with the Strategic Model Emphasis on brevity Clear behavioral goals Extensive use of reframing

Differences Between SFBT and Strategic Theory Client truly wants to change Resistance is only a mis-match between the therapist’s suggestion and the client’s worldview Client is expert, therapist is a collaborative partner SFBT is straightforward and easy to understand Strategic Client’s problems serve them a purpose Client is “resistant” to change Therapist is expert/manipulator Strategic model is complex, intellectual, and intimidating

Responding to the Issues of…

Sociocultural, Demographic and Lifestyle Diversity Issues A true solution focused therapist would claim that SFBT is a completely unbiased model of therapy The client’s worldview is completely valid and meaningful Little to no focus on the past, history or context

The Question of Cosmology Future-focused, not past Offers little to the discourse on a person’s context within a system of others “Languaging” is highly emphasized – people use language to create their own social contexts and realities

The Question of Aesthetics Emphasis on simplicity, obviousness and common sense Searching for “underlying issues” is a no-no!

The Question of Relationship Collaborative Partnership Horizontal, not hierarchical Importance of Fit

The Question of Ethics “Is there a choice to be made? Can we continue to diagnose if, or when, we know different and maybe faster and simpler ways to find out what can be helpful?” H. Korman The diagnosis trap

The Question of Cognition/Knowledge/Truth SFBT believes that individuals and their families have the knowledge to build their own solutions Cognitions vs. Emotions Mediated through language

The Question of Motive/Motivation Initial distress Client already has tools for success and has been successful and productive in the past Compliments as a therapeutic tool that help motivate people and build solutions Quick effectiveness

The Question of Expressiveness Others feel emotions deserve a more central role Contend that using “language games: relegates the therapist to an expert/manipulator HOT TOPIC… Traditionally emotions linked to cognitions/behavior Traditional emphasis on behavior when emotion is experienced Emotion is created through “language games.” Thus, emotion can be impacted by a change in language, and therefore a change of meaning

The Question of change Clearly defined goals elicit the expectation for change Emphasis on reframing and creating new meanings Small changes naturally lead to larger change

The Question of Participation “A tap on the shoulder” Collaborative Partnership – co-constructing solutions for a preferred future Using language to focus attention to client’s strengths and past successes while incorporating the client’s own language and ideas

The Question of First Cause If it ain’t broke don’t fix it If it works do more of it If it doesn’t work don’t do it again

References