1. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy

2. Techniques

3. Complimenting Facilitates a positive climate Facilitates a positive climate Alleviates fears of judgement and change Alleviates fears of judgement and change Responsibility enhancers Responsibility enhancers Encourage the client using an uplifting voice Encourage the client using an uplifting voice Jorge is passing in school, he has made much progress in learning the English language, Jorge is in good physical condition, he has many friends in the neighborhood. Jorge is passing in school, he has made much progress in learning the English language, Jorge is in good physical condition, he has many friends in the neighborhood.

4. Normalizing the problem Alleviates fear of being the only one with the problem(s) Alleviates fear of being the only one with the problem(s) Lets the client know that the therapist is aware of their effort to change things. Lets the client know that the therapist is aware of their effort to change things. For Jorge’s case: For Jorge’s case: –All teenagers, at some time in their adolescence, have conflicts with their parents/caregivers. –All parents worry about their children; it’s a normal thing to wonder what your kid is doing when out of your sight. –There will always be people that do things that you don’t necessarily agree with, and that’s okay. Stick to your values. –Everyone experiences anxiety; sometimes it can seem overwhelming.

5. Examples of normalizing the problem: “It’s ok that you and your Aunt and Uncle are sometimes fighting. Every kid at some time will have a conflict with their parents.” “It’s ok that you and your Aunt and Uncle are sometimes fighting. Every kid at some time will have a conflict with their parents.” “It is often a parent’s natural duty to be concerned with where their child is at and what their child is doing. So, your Aunt and Uncle’s worrying is just natural considering where you live with the gang activity going on.” “It is often a parent’s natural duty to be concerned with where their child is at and what their child is doing. So, your Aunt and Uncle’s worrying is just natural considering where you live with the gang activity going on.” “And you know, that’s okay that you are not joining in the gang activity. There will always be someone/something with which you don’t agree, and that is okay.” “And you know, that’s okay that you are not joining in the gang activity. There will always be someone/something with which you don’t agree, and that is okay.” “Life is hard sometimes, not knowing which way to go and what to do, and so many other people experience anxiety. Sometimes life seems so overwhelming. You are not alone in these episodes.” “Life is hard sometimes, not knowing which way to go and what to do, and so many other people experience anxiety. Sometimes life seems so overwhelming. You are not alone in these episodes.”

6. Exceptions Make note of the times when the problem is NOT happening. Make note of the times when the problem is NOT happening. Find out how the spontaneous exceptions are happening and what is different about those times. Find out how the spontaneous exceptions are happening and what is different about those times. Always focus on the positive. Always focus on the positive.

7. Examples of exceptions: “Tell me Jorge, when are these panic attacks NOT happening?” “Tell me Jorge, when are these panic attacks NOT happening?” “What are you doing when the attacks DON’T come?” “What are you doing when the attacks DON’T come?” Contextual differences: “What is different about these times?” Contextual differences: “What is different about these times?” Specification (from client’s perspective): “What are you doing differently?” and “How are you thinking differently?” Specification (from client’s perspective): “What are you doing differently?” and “How are you thinking differently?” Specification (from other’s perspective): “How are you being perceived by others as acting differently?” Specification (from other’s perspective): “How are you being perceived by others as acting differently?”

8. Well-defined goals In a positive representation In a positive representation In a process form In a process form –“Doing” –“Feeling” –“Acting” In the here and now In the here and now As specific as possible As specific as possible –Behavioral changes Within the client’s control -> action can be started and maintained by the client Within the client’s control -> action can be started and maintained by the client –What the client can do, not others actions In the client’s language In the client’s language

9. Goal Setting Set goals with the client, Jorge, as the expert (what Jorge would like to see happen) Set goals with the client, Jorge, as the expert (what Jorge would like to see happen) –“What would you like to see happen? What would you like to change, Jorge?” goals are small and attainable (make sure that it’s something that Jorge can accomplish) goals are small and attainable (make sure that it’s something that Jorge can accomplish) –“What will be the first sign that you are achieving your goal?” Behavioral and specific in content (be sure to get specific behaviors that Jorge will do to change the situation) Behavioral and specific in content (be sure to get specific behaviors that Jorge will do to change the situation) –“What will you be doing when you have changed?” Presence of something, not absence of something (not the absence of his panic attacks) Presence of something, not absence of something (not the absence of his panic attacks) Normalize setbacks (discuss with Jorge that these goals may be hard work) Normalize setbacks (discuss with Jorge that these goals may be hard work)

10. Hypotheticals These are the wanted solutions to the problem, if a miracle happened, i.e. These are the wanted solutions to the problem, if a miracle happened, i.e. Used when clients have difficulty coming up with exceptions. Used when clients have difficulty coming up with exceptions. Can be used as a check on how exceptions compare to imagined solution. Can be used as a check on how exceptions compare to imagined solution.

11. Examples of hypotheticals: “If this was your last session, Jorge, and you were walking out with the problem solved, what would you be doing differently?” “If this was your last session, Jorge, and you were walking out with the problem solved, what would you be doing differently?” “If a miracle happened one night while you were asleep, and you woke up in the morning with your problem solved, what would be different? How would you be acting differently? How would your Aunt Celia and Uncle Paco perceive you as acting differently?” “If a miracle happened one night while you were asleep, and you woke up in the morning with your problem solved, what would be different? How would you be acting differently? How would your Aunt Celia and Uncle Paco perceive you as acting differently?” Or “If coming here was useful to you, what would you be doing differently?” Or “If coming here was useful to you, what would you be doing differently?”

12. Follow up with “Ok, so tell me about some times when this (the solution; exception; hypothetical) is already happening a little bit now.”

13. Assignments/Tasks Observe for positives  What is Jorge doing now that is good for his situation? Observe for positives  What is Jorge doing now that is good for his situation? –“So, as you continue to do these things, will you think that you are on track to solving your problem?” Do more of these positives Do more of these positives –“How would you keep doing the positives? How will others know that you are keeping this going?” Find out how the spontaneous exceptions are happening; make note of it Find out how the spontaneous exceptions are happening; make note of it If no exceptions  do some small piece of the hypothetical solution If no exceptions  do some small piece of the hypothetical solution