Solution Focused Therapy Notes

Class Check-In

• Instructor acknowledges student submissions of critiques on scholarly articles.
• Grading process is forthcoming but no definitive timeline provided.
• Discussion about the end of the course on the 22nd.

Overview of Course Modules

• Currently in week 6, covering:
  • Chapter 12: Solution Focused Therapy
  • Chapter 13: Narrative Therapy
• These are the final family intervention models discussed in the course.

Solution Focused Therapy (Chapter 12)

• Definition:
  • Focuses on helping families or clients find solutions to their problems.
  • Similar to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).
  • Typically involves 5 to 10 sessions.
• Main Goal:
  • Shift focus from problems to solutions.
  • Encourages positive thinking over negative thinking.
• Key Principles:
  • Clients possess the necessary skills to solve their own problems; they are viewed as experts in their lives.
  • Therapists act as facilitators or cheerleaders, supporting clients in identifying effective solutions.
• Therapeutic Techniques:
  1. Problem Description:
  • Questions to identify client perceptions, e.g., "What do you think is the problem now?"
  1. Goal Setting:
  • Help clients articulate achievable goals, e.g., "How will you know you’ve reached your goals?"
  1. Miracle Question:
  • Questions like "If you woke up tomorrow and the problem was resolved, how would you know?"
  1. Scaling Questions:
  • E.g., "On a scale from 1 to 10, how close do you feel to your family?"
  1. Exception Questions:
  • Ask for times when the problem was not present.
  1. Compliments for Strengths:
  • Recognize and amplify previous successes or strengths.

Roles in Family Therapy Sessions

• Visitor:
  • Attends therapy at another's request; may not be engaged in solving the problem.
• Complainant:
  • Acknowledges problems but lacks motivation to work on solutions.
• Customer:
  • Actively seeks solutions and is ready to take action.

History of Therapy Models

• Solution Focused Therapy developed from the MRI (Mental Research Institute) model, which was more behavioral and structured in its approach.

Practical Application in Therapy

• Engagement:
  • Understand family dynamics and perceptions of the problem during initial sessions.
• Homework/Tasks:
  • Assign small, achievable tasks to encourage involvement in the therapeutic process.
• Evaluation:
  • Measure progress through follow-up questions and adjusting goals as necessary.

Final Reflections

• Emphasizes moving families toward healthy relationships.
• Encourages addressing problems as a family unit, fostering open communication and coping strategies.
• Next Steps:
  • Students prepare for upcoming assignment, reviewing family intervention models and their applications.
  • Practice questions include analyzing family interactions based on the discussed theories.