1. Solution Focused Therapy

2. Leading Figures Steve de Shazer (1940-2005) Insoo Kim Berg (1934-2007)
Brief Family Therapy Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

3. Basic Principles
Focus on where problems are maintained rather than their origin
Future-oriented
Refuse the idea that people somehow need their problems: “the death of resistance”
Assume that people really want to change

4. Basic Principles
People are constrained by narrow views of their problems into perpetuating rigid patterns of false solutions
Problem talk language is very different than solution talk language
Negative, past vs. positive and future oriented

5. Basic Principles Positive, solution building approach
Replace the focus from problems to client strengths and resources
Belief that people have untapped and often unconscious resources
Client is the expert of the problem

6. Why do problems happen? Who cares?
Solutions are independent of the way problems developed
Don’t look at the past, only to the future

7. Basic Principles: Therapist’s roles
Be not-knowing: Therapy is collaborative and cooperative.
Notice something positive about the client
Listen for what the client might want different
Accept what the client wants as valid and reasonable
Make sure that the goals are specific, behavioral and obtainable.

8. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Three Types of Client Progress:
Progressive: Indicates that clients are moving forward and acting on goals.
Stability: Indicates client’s are keeping the status quo.
Regressive: Indicates client’s are retreating from goals.

9. Counselor/client relationship
Customer—Seller; Complainant—Listener; Visitor— Host.
Customers: These clients are active and want to do something about their situation.
Complainant: These clients don’t want to do anything themselves but want someone or something else to change.
Visitor: A client who does not know or cannot verbalize his or her complaint or problem.

10. Therapeutic Steps Role Clarification Problem Description
Goal Formulation
Moving Toward a Solution by using various SFT techniques
Ending

11. Role Clarification
After the paperwork, introductions, & brief rapport building, clarify how you work.
For example, taking a break after approximately 40 minutes to “think about what you told me.”

12. Problem Description How can I help? How is this a problem for you?
Get the problem description; if more than one, which is most important to work on first?)
What have you tried? (Was it helpful?)

13. Goal Formulation
What would have to be different as a result of our meeting today for you to say that our work was worthwhile? Or therapy worked?
bwY

14. Think about the solution: Solution Building
Tell me about the times when this problem is a little bit better.
Tell me about the most recent times when this happened.
How did you do it?
What are you doing differently during those times when things are a little bit better?
What would your best friend say you do when things are going a little bit better for you?

15. When communication breaks down: Usefulness question
Purpose is to make the conversation as useful as possible
What do you want to come out of this conversation?
How can we make this conversation as useful as possible?
How would you notice later that this conversation was worth your time?

16. Scaling Questions
When you are interested in level of difficulty or progress?
What tells you that you are at 6?
What would it take to move 1 point higher?
How long did it take you to get to 6?
What do you need to do to keep your 6?
How come it’s not –1?

17. Coping Questions
When the client has barely have any energy to do something about their problem
How do you manage to keep going?
What keeps you going under such difficult circumstances?
How do you manage to deal with such difficult situations everyday?

18. The Miracle Question
(Once asked, focus on what will be different when the miracle happens.)
Regarding client: What will you notice that's different? (What will be the first thing that you notice? What else?)
Regarding significant others: Who else will notice when the miracle happens?

19. Moving toward a solution
1. If client is concrete, give compliments and suggest: 'in the next week, pick one day and pretend that the miracle has happened and look for what a difference it makes.
2. If the client is not concrete, give compliments and suggest: "Think about what’s happening in your life that tells you that this problem can be solved. And I'll do some thinking too” 3. Observational tasks are common.

20. Observation suggestions
Client: “I don’t know when things were better” “Things were never better”
Therapist: “Could you between now and the next session pay attention to when things are better. When you notice that things are better, could you pay attention to what is different in that situation and what you are doing differently?”

21. Normalization Depathologize the client
“Of course, you are feeling angry, it’s normal to be angry right now, I would be surprised if you weren’t”.

22. Mutulazing
Mom: “I want my child to live with me because that’s what’s best for my child”
Dad: “ I think her living with me at least half of the time would be best for her development”
Therapist: “It seems like you both want what’s best for your daughter. You just can’t seem to agree on how to achieve it at the moment. Can we agree on that?”

23. Solution Focused Crisis Therapy
Coping questions are helpful.
Scaling questions are helpful in assessing crisis situations.
Most clients stabilize and make progress as they participate in solution-building progress.
Clients improve by focusing on past successes and strengths.

24. Overview: Session # 1 Protocol
Role Clarification
Problem Description
Goal Formulation

25. Overview: Session # 2 Protocol
What’s better?
Doing more
If nothing is better – How are you coping?
Scaling Progress
Compliments
Tasks

26. Later Sessions
Focus is on finding, amplifying, and measuring client progress
Opening and sustaining a dialogue around what’s better for the client
EARS
Elicit exceptions
Amplify exceptions
Reinforce successes
Start again

27. Children’s Solution Work
Insoo Kim Berg & Therese Steiner
Power Hands Activity
Draw an outline of each activity finger
Have the child name an activity that they are good at for each finger.
Have the child color in or write in the activity.
Child should do all 10 fingers.

28. Dealing with Sexual Abuse
Letter to the Future
Pick a time in the future (5 – 20) years from now. Date the letter with the imaginary date and write to a supportive friend. Imagine that you have resolved or coped with whatever is bothering you at the present time. Describe what helped you. Describe how you are spending your time and the joyous things you are enjoying.