Recording-2025-02-22T19:17:40.874Z

Overview of Solution Focused Therapy (SFT)

• Not Theory Driven: SFT is characterized as a positive and constructivist approach without being grounded in traditional therapeutic theories.

• Collaborative Approach: Unlike confrontational therapies, SFT emphasizes collaboration and collegiality in the therapeutic process.

Key Principles of Solution Focused Therapy

• Contextual Problems:

  • Problems arise in human interactions, beyond just relationships.

• Change as Positive:

  • Any change, regardless of directionality, is seen as a step away from the problem.

  • Acknowledgment of both positive and negative changes (e.g., increasing alcohol consumption is seen as negative).

• Client as Expert:

  • The client is viewed as the expert in their own life, contributing valuable insights to therapy.

  • Therapists focus on helping clients uncover forgotten wisdom rather than directing or instructing.

Resistance in Therapy

• Positive Interpretation of Resistance:

  • Resistance is viewed as informative, helping therapists understand how to assist clients.

  • Similar to motivational interviewing, cooperation and connection between present and future are built to manage resistance.

Focus on Present and Future

• Present and Future Orientation:

  • The past is largely ignored, except when identifying exceptions to the problem.

• Exceptions:

  • Understanding when the problem was absent can provide insights for solutions.

Techniques in Solution Focused Therapy

• Reframing:

  • The therapist helps in redefining meanings surrounding the client's narrative, parallel to cognitive-behavioral therapies.

• Goal Setting:

  • Goals in SFT are small, achievable, and measurable, in contrast to other modalities with larger, often overwhelming objectives.

• Miracle Question:

  • A diagnostic question posed to clients about how they would know their problem was solved, facilitating insight into potential changes.

• Identification of Exceptions:

  • Clients identify moments when the problem wasn’t affecting them, aiding in discovering solutions.

• Scaling:

  • A technique using a scale from 1 to 10 to measure the severity of problems, aligning with the goal of measurable objectives.

Advantages of Solution Focused Therapy

• Research Support:

  • Generally effective for various issues, though less so for severe disorders.

• Brief Therapy:

  • Many view the brevity of SFT as an advantage, allowing for efficient treatment.

• Achievable Goals:

  • Establishing small, realistic goals can enhance client motivation and prevent discouragement.

Disadvantages of Solution Focused Therapy

• Constructed Reality:

  • The co-construction of reality and solutions opens the approach to postmodern criticisms, similar to narrative therapy perspectives.