Today's Gem

Solution Focused Therapy

Theories and
Techniques

Date: July 18 2023

Presenters:
Keisha-Gay Dayes
Kessanoy Mullings-Smith
Jevaughn Mclean
Jo-Twain Mckenzie
Frederick Montaque
Tovia Horne
 Today's Agenda
An Overview of the Solution Focused Theory
The Principles of the Solution Focused Theory
The Central constructs of the Solution Focused Theory

The Nature of therapy according to the Solution Focused Theory

The Therapeutic Techniques used in the Solution Focused Theory

Evaluating the Solution Focused Theory

BREAK
Analyzing the peer-reviewed Article
Case Conceptualization- " The Case of Hatty"
 What is solution-focused brief
therapy?
SFBT is a short-term form of psychotherapy that focuses on solutions
rather than gaining insight into challenges and concerns.

Developed by Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg in collaboration with

their colleagues at the Milwaukee Brief Family Therapy Center.

SFBT is considered a constructive therapy

Client and counsellor share the responsibility for the therapy

outcome

Solution-focused (SF) therapists are serious (Ackerman, 2017)

 Principles of Solution-focused
therapy
1. Clients have resources and strengths to resolve complaints.

2. Change is constant.

3. The role of the SF counsellor is to recognize and promote change.

4. To address a complaint, you typically don't need to know a lot about it.

5. One doesn't need to be informed of the cause or intent of a complaint

to respond to it.
(Murdock, 2009)
 Principles of Solution-focused
therapy

6. A small change is all that is necessary.

7. Clients define the goal.

8 Rapid change or the resolution of problems is possible.

9. There is no one right way to view things

10. Instead of concentrating on what is impossible and unchangeable, think

about what is achievable and changeable.

(Murdock, 2009)
[Link]
 Central Constructs of SF
Exceptions:
An SF therapist begins with the basic idea that, despite the intensity of a client's
presenting problem, the problem is not always present.

Strengths and Resources:

SFT identifies and builds on the client's existing coping strategies, resources, and
strengths.
Solutions
Rather than focusing on the problems, SFT identifies and amplifies solutions.

Change talk:
The counsellor discusses the client's issue in a way that leads to change. .

(Murdock, 2009)
 NATURE OF THERAPY
Assessment:
SF practitioners disagree with standard assessments; instead, SF counsellors conduct
interviews to find answers before even beginning counselling.

Therapeutic Atmosphere:
Four to twelve sessions of solution-focused therapy are usually required.
SF Therapy is seen as a collaborative venture.
Client and Counsellor respect each other's worldviews as valid and meaningful.
Counselling in SF is a dynamic process.

(Murdock, 2009)
 NATURE OF THERAPY

The Therapy Process

The client and counsellor negotiate the nature and meaning of the client's
complaint.

The SF counsellor focuses on the present, not the past.

SF counsellors don't recognize transference, countertransference and

resistance.

(Murdock, 2009)
 NATURE OF THERAPY
The Therapy Process

The primary objective of the first session is to formulate a comprehensible

complaint or, at the very least, to attempt to address the issue.

The counsellor often assigns the client a solution-related assignment to do

between sessions.

The counsellor will continue to use what works and quit using what doesn't in
the remaining treatment sessions.

(Murdock, 2009)
 Types of Clients

Visitors:
Are clients who don’t have any complaints.

Complainants:
These are clients who acknowledge there is a problem.

Customers:
Clients who decided to bring a complaint and wish to take action

(Murdock, 2009)
 Goal of Therapy
Clients define the goal.

Change the doing of the situation that is perceived as problematic

Change the viewing of the situation- Reframing
Prompt resources, strengths, and solutions to the situation perceived as
problematic.

The goals should be: S-specific

M- Mesureale
A- Attenable
R- Realistic
T- Time-Bound

(Murdock, 2009)
[Link]
 THERAPEUTIC TECHNIQUES

Write, Read, and Burn Externalizing

Compliments First Session Formula Task
Solution-focused Questions Generic Task
The Miracle Question Breaking Patterns
Scaling Questions Surprise Task
Prediction Tasks Structured Fight

Fast-Forward Questions Do something different

Asking about the Problem Normalizing the Problem

(Murdock, 2009)
 THERAPEUTIC TECHNIQUES

Write, Read, and Burn- Helps clients achieve distance from their concerns and
become more objective. Most clients find that after a few days, they have
better things to do than to dwell on the problem.

Compliments- serve as positive reinforcement, acknowledging client

strengths and progress, fostering hope, and building rapport.

(Murdock, 2009)
 Who Benefits from Solution
Focused?
Solution-focused brief therapy is most beneficial and clinically proven
to help treat:

Individuals who are struggling with a form of addiction or substance

abuse
Children who are displaying behavioural problems, like conduct
disorder
Family conflict through group family therapy sessions
Couples who are faced with a myriad of relationship issues
Those experiencing a difficult life transition
Individual experiencing depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem
(Cromer, 2022)
 Evaluation of The Theory

Strength Limitations:
1. It's brief and time-limited.
2. It places a strong emphasis on client 1. Limited Exploration of Underlying
empowerment and collaboration Issues
disorder. 2. Reliance on Client Motivation.
3. Positive and forward-thinking. 3. Lack of Attention to Past Experiences
4. It can be effectively utilized across 4. Potential Overemphasis on Positive
cultures. Thinking

(Lightfoot, 2014)
 Journal Article Analysis

Journal: The American Journal of Family Therapy

Title: The Global Outcomes of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy: A Revision

Authors: Marie-Carmen Neipp & Mark Beyebach

Published online: 09 May 2022.

Link to the article: [Link]

 Journal Article Analysis
The purposes of the study were:

1. To examine the features of the outcome research papers on SFBT published worldwide

over the last thirty years.

2. To analyze the effectiveness of SFBT interventions globally.

Method:

A systematic literature search was conducted using nine databases, including the Solution-

Focused Brief Therapy Association (SFBTA) and European Brief Therapy Association (EBTA).

(Neipp & Beyebach, 2022)

 Journal Article Analysis
Key findings in the study- Features of the outcome studies:

Psychotherapy accounted for the majority of the

solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT)
interventions.

Research predominantly focused on

individual and group interventions

(Neipp & Beyebach, 2022)

 Journal Article Analysis
Key Findings in the study- The Effectiveness of SFT:

SFBT appears to be more effective in educational

settings than in psychotherapy settings

SFBT appears to be more effective in group interventions than

individual interventions

SFBT appears to be dropping in research involving patients

with official diagnoses.
(Neipp & Beyebach, 2022)
 Journal Article Analysis
Limitations of the study
Strength of the study
Lack of non-western databases
Extensive data extraction from
multiple sources, as well as Many studies had missing data,
rigorous research classification decreasing the sample size for
analysis.

(Neipp & Beyebach, 2022)

 Journal Article Analysis

Implications for future studies

Further research on the effectiveness of solution-focused approaches should

be done in organizational, community, and child protection interventions.

Future research on the effectiveness of solution-focused is needed with more

distressed populations

(Neipp & Beyebach, 2022)

 Journal Article Analysis

Conclusion:

SFBT typically achieves superior results when compared with alternative

treatments.

It is more effective in group settings and school counselling.

(Neipp & Beyebach, 2022)

Case Concepetualization
 Treatment Plan
Problem Statement:

Hatty views her family as neglectful and unsupporting, which leads to

her lack of coping skills, poor self- concept and poor social and
emotional adjustment at school.

Long Term Goals

To develop healthy coping strategies, improve social skills, and foster a

positive sense of self-worth for Hatty.
Treatment Plan
 Wrap up Discussion

One Take-way you got from the theory

Give an aspect of the theory you agree with

Give an aspect of the theory you disagree with

References
References Continued