LJ

Recording-2025-09-18T04:03:52.185Z

Overview of postmodern approaches and the focus of this module

  • Postmodern therapies emphasize changing how clients conceptualize themselves and their problems, often via reauthoring stories and identities rather than focusing primarily on emotions or the problem-behavior distinction used in some other approaches.
  • These strategies are informed by philosophical underpinnings such as constructivism, social constructionism, post-structuralism, and aspects of hermeneutics. In this course, the emphasis is on practical skills rather than deep theory, though a basic theoretical backdrop is acknowledged.
  • Four major postmodern approaches have emerged: narrative therapy, solution-focused therapy (SFT), collaborative therapy, and feminist therapy. In practice, many clinicians integrate elements from these models; however, full integration of modern (problem-focused, historic) therapies with postmodern approaches can be problematic and potentially confusing for clients. Caution is advised when mixing paradigms.
  • The two prominent figures associated with Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT) are Insoo Kim Berg and Steve de Shazer. The approach foregrounds solutions and future goals rather than problem talk and historical factors.
  • Practical takeaway: the skills discussed in this module (SFT) are designed to develop a sense of adventure and curiosity in working with clients, with an emphasis on present and future-oriented change.

Core focus and philosophical stance of Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT)

  • SFT concentrates on developing solutions and how clients can move toward desired states, not on detailing why problems arose or how they have evolved.
  • It moves away from a problem-focused environment and toward helping clients articulate where they want to be and how to get there.
  • The approach assumes people possess many skills and abilities, which may be overlooked or underutilized by unsupportive environments.
  • It emphasizes concrete, actionable conversations and cycles of exploration that illuminate exceptions to the problem rather than dwelling on it.
  • SFT is widely used in workplaces and organizations due to its practical, forward-looking orientation.
  • Ethical/practical note: while the approach is powerful, practitioners should maintain a clear theoretical understanding to apply techniques appropriately (e.g., knowing how and when to use the miracle question, exceptions, and scaling). Misuse or shallow application can reduce effectiveness or misrepresent the client’s experience.

Founders, key concepts, and language you will encounter

  • Founders: Insoo Kim Berg and Steve de Shazer developed SFT based on a set of theoretical underpinnings; their work emphasizes questions that guide clients toward envisioning a preferred future without the problem.
  • Terminology you will encounter:
    • Exceptions: moments or periods when the problem is less influential, or when the client functions relatively well despite the problem.
    • Miracle Question: a structured conversational sequence designed to help clients imagine a future in which the problem has disappeared.
    • Scaling Questions: quantitative tools to measure progress toward the desired future and to anchor conversations in concrete data.
    • Day-after-the-miracle state / miracle-day concept: a future point at which the client has achieved their preferred state, free of the problematic influence.
  • The approach is part of a broader postmodern family but with a distinct emphasis on solution-building and present/future focus.

The Miracle Question: purpose and essential structure

  • Purpose: to help clients imagine a future free of the problem and to clarify goals by projecting beyond the current struggle.
  • Core idea: clients describe what their life would look like if a miracle occurred overnight and the problem was resolved, enabling them to articulate values, priorities, and concrete next steps.
  • Important clarification: the miracle question is not a single isolated question; it is a guided conversational process with rhythm, pauses, and follow-up inquiries.
  • Common misconception: it is not about magical thinking alone; it is a structured entry into a detailed exploration of the client’s desired state and practical pathways to reach it.

Six steps to facilitating the miracle question (as outlined in the module)

1) Foundation: set the scene and invite imaginative exploration

  • Start with an unusual or inviting framing you can say in a normal tone.
  • Example sequence:
    • "Suppose after we finish here, you go home tonight, watch some TV, do your usual chores, and then go to sleep."
    • Pause to signal the cue to imagine the next part.
    • "While you’re sleeping, the miracle happens."
  • Use pauses and a curious, light tone to invite engagement and a sense of adventure.
  • The context is the client’s ordinary daily life, which makes the fantastical element credible and usable.

2) Other people’s view: invite social corroboration of change

  • Ask what it would look like for others to notice that the miracle happened.
  • Example prompts:
    • "Once you wake up in the morning, how will you go about discovering that this miracle has happened to you?"
    • If relevant, ask about a specific other person (e.g., father, best friend) and how they would know.
  • Do not interrupt; allow silence; give clients time to respond. If responses seem off-topic, gently redirect by repeating the question once.
  • Observational perspective from others can illuminate values and social supports that matter to the client, and adolescents may find it easier to describe the day-after state from others’ viewpoints.

3) Exceptional times: identify moments of relief or strength that foreshadow change

  • Gently explore past moments when life felt closer to the miracle state.
  • Prompt: "When was the most recent time you can remember when things were more like the day after the miracle?"
  • Use the identified exceptional times as entry points for further exploration and future possibilities.
  • Note: the goal is not to celebrate the problem, but to recognize and enlarge moments when the problem mattered less or when the client functioned well.

4) Scaling questions: quantify progress and link past, present, and future

  • Introduce a progress scale to anchor the exceptional times and link them to future goals.
  • Core format: scale from 0 to 10, where 10 represents the day after the miracle and 0 represents the pre-appointment state.
    • Define the scale: s \in [0,10], \text{where } 10 \text{ = day after the miracle and } 0 \text{ = pre-appointment state}.
  • Sample questions:
    • "On a scale from 0 to 10, where do you stand right now on the day-after-miracle state?"
    • "On the same scale, where do you think your best friend would say you are now?"
    • "On the same scale, where were you the last time things were like the miracle day?"
  • Purpose: broaden exposure to exceptional times and make future possibilities more visible and tangible.

5) What