Solution-Focused Therapy

Assumes human behavior is less of a function of the characteristics but more of a pattern of bx that is learned in family of origin 

Usual patterns of bx that prevents effective solution to the problem are: underreacting, overreacting, denying, and taking actions to make the situation worse 

Solution-focus includes: 

• Narrow focus on client's most pressing concerns 

• Belief that client's presenting concerns need to be addressed 

• Focus on change not cure 

• Assumption that origins of the client's problems need to be understood in order to help the client 

• Client leads process of problem formulation, goal setting, and intervention 

• Intervention should have strengths origin 

Major concepts 

• Solutions do not need to be directly related to a client's presenting problem 

• There is no correct way to view the problem 

Overall goal of SFT: focus on concrete solutions to their problems or challenges, discover exceptions to their problems (times when the problem is not happening), become more aware of strengths and resources, learn to act and think differently 

Assessment and Intervention 

• Build an alliance by accepting without interpreting or reformulating the client's perspective on the problem in the client's own language 

  • Some worry that rapid application can prevent relationship from building, which will decrease effectiveness 

• Beginning client and clinician will 

  • Articulate prob (client's belief of source of prob, how it affects the client, how the client has coped so far, what solutions have they tried) 

  • Dev goals within the client's words 

• During the session, the social worker will: 

  • Explore exceptions 

  • Participates in task dev 

  • Provide end of session feedback 

  • Eval progress 

Questions to ask: 

• What has improved? 

• What needs to happen for these changes to continue? 

• What obstacles may get in the way, and how might you overcome them? 

• What have you learned so far from what you've been doing? 

• What have you learned not to do? 

End of intervention questions 

• How confident do you feel about the plan of action? 

• What do you expect the hardest challenge to be? 

• What benefits make all of this effort worth it? 

• Who will help you? 

• How will you remind yourself about the things that have helped you? 

Effectiveness 

• Proven effective with those with ADHD, separation anxiety, anxiety disorder, adjustment disorders, disruptive behavior disorders 

Criticisms 

• Encourages to "think positively" which can minimize or diminish probs 

• Some clients may want to dig more into the past