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Solution Focused Therapy
(SFT)
Solution
Focused Therapy (SFT) is one of the Constructivist Therapies ( Solution-Focused Therapy and Narrative Therapy) (Prochaska & Norcross, 2014). It was created in 1986 by social workers Insoo
Kin Berg and Steve de Shazer (Prochaska & Norcross, 2014). This
approach was strongly influenced by the 1990s post-modern movement,
and based on social constructivism orientation (Prochaska &
Norcross, 2014). Social constructivism emphasizes the power of
language in frame reality according to the individual's perceptions
and interactions with other people and society (Goldenberg &
Goldenberg, 2014).
Solution
Focused Therapy (SFT) is a brief therapy approach with an average of
six sessions (O'Connell, 2005) and five phases: definition of issues,
seeking for exceptions of the difficulties, choosing specific goals,
therapist feedback and evaluation (Taylor, 2009).The main focus is
not on diagnosis, past history, or even the cause of the problem.
Instead, the solution-focused therapist develops a collaborative
relationship with the clients in order to identify how they formulate
their solutions, as well their ways of reaching their goals (Gingerich &
Eisengart, 2004).
This
approach holds the following assumptions: focusing on the solutions
encourage clients to change the direction of their thoughts to a
positive future, and , therefore, instils hope; the clients do not
actually resist, but, on the contrary, they are healthy, competent,
want to cooperate, and have the means to change (Corcoran, &
Pillai, 2009); with only a small change being enough to lead to a
bigger transformation (O'Connell, 2005).
The
therapeutic relationship in this approach has a specific intention,
where the therapist is more active, complimenting and kindly guiding
the clients (Prochaska & Norcross, 2014). Clients are considered
specialists in creating their goals and solutions, while therapists
are the professionals in the process and structure of therapy
(Goldenberg & Goldenberg, 2014).
The
therapeutic process is organized in stages where clients delineate
their difficulties, decide about specific feasible goals and develop
solutions during the therapy (Prochaska & Norcross, 2014). The
goals must be positive, practical, precise, be the client's
responsibility, and starts on the present day with a clear view on
how it will be achieved (Prochaska & Norcross, 2014).
The
clinician work is to guide the clients to create solutions by utilizing the technique of asking special questions (Goldenberg &
Goldenberg, 2014). From the beginning of the therapy,
“exception-finding questions”(Taylor, 2009) help clients to recognize moments when they do not have the undesirable behavior
(Goldenberg & Goldenberg, 2014). For those who cannot determine
when they do not have the unwanted behavior, the therapist asks the
“miracle question”(Taylor, 2009). This question aims to reveal
how clients imagine their future (Quick, 2013). The third type of
questions which are used several times during the therapy are called
“scaling questions” (Goldenberg & Goldenberg, 2014). They
clarify each family member's viewpoint of the situation or problem (Goldenberg & Goldenberg, 2014). Solution
Focused therapy also utilizes compliments as feedback intervention,
intending to improve the client's emotional state, encourage client's
cooperation, treatment continuity, and communicate the therapist's
acceptance (Macdonald, 2004).
Solution
Focused therapy has proved to be effective in research studies by
demonstrating an expressive number of expected outcomes in many areas
(Dylan & Pichot, 2003). This include children, adolescents (Dylan
& Pichot, 2003), and adult families as well as at schools, and
hospitals, in administrative agency settings, and in clinical
settings to treat grief and loss, (Dylan & Pichot, 2003),
substance abuse (Snyder & Plato, 2013), domestic violence and
sexual abuse prevention (Macdonald, 2011). The approach can also be
used by practitioners who are not counsellors or psychologists for
the simplicity of the technique's application (O'Connell, 2005).
Some
of the strengths of this brief therapeutic model include: the message
that clients are capable; their non-resistant attitude toward the
issue, and their empowerment as a consequence of being the authors of
their own improvements; thus, removing the power competition between
therapist and client (Corcoran, & Pillai, 2009). In addition, it
is an affordable therapy due to the short length of treatment; which
enables hope, confidence, rapid response and positive results to be
achieved in a reduced period of time, as the therapeutic process of
change starts from the first session (Corcoran, & Pillai, 2009).
On
the other hand, some criticism of SFT come from different areas.
Humanistic and psychoanalytic clinicians have criticized SFT for
lacking a deep and detailed explanation of the mechanisms of change
(Macdonald, 2011). This weakness, however, would not influence any particular
area of this case study. Additionally, psychoanalysts and Gestalt
therapist state that SFT does not address childhood traumas or
unconscious repressions (Corey, 2009). The major criticism of SFT by
some clinicians is that SFT completely excludes the emotional
perspective (Miller & de Shazer, 2010).
PACFA Reg. Provisional 25212 MCouns, MQCA(Clinical)
Written by Insoo Kim
Berg, 1934-2007; presented by Insoo Kim Berg, 1934-2007
(San Francisco, CA:
Psychotherapy.net, 1994), 1:45:08 mins
References
Corey,
G. (2009). Theory and
practice of counselling and psychotherapy.
Belmont, Calif: Brooks/Cole/Cengage.
Corcoran, J., & Pillai, V. (2009). A review
of the research on solution-focused therapy. British
Journal of Social Work, 39(2),
234-242. doi:10.1093/bjsw/bcm098
Dylan, Y. M., Pichot, T. (2003). Solution-focused brief therapy: Its effective use in agency settings. Binghamton, NY: Haworth Clinical Practice Press.
Goldenberg,
I.,Goldenberg, H. (2013). Family
therapy: An overview.
Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.
Macdonald, A. J. (2011). Solution-focused
therapy theory, research and practice.
London: Sage Publications Ltd.
Miller, G., & de Shazer, S. (2010).
Emotions in solution-focused therapy: A re-examination. Interaction,
2(1), 67-99.
O'Connell,
B. (2005). Solution-focused
therapy.
Thousand Oaks, Calif: Sage Publications.
Prochaska,
J. O, Norcross, J. C. (2014). Systems
of psychotherapy: A transtheoretical analysis.
Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning.
Quick,
E. K. (2012).Core
competencies in the solution-focused and strategic therapies.
Becoming a highly competent solution-focused and strategic therapist.
USA: Routledge-Taylor and Francis.
Quick,
E. K. (2013). Solution
focused anxiety management: A treatment and training manual.
San Diego: Academic Press.
Snyder, Marsha, PhD, PMHNP,BC, CADC, &
Platt, Lois, MSN, PMHNP,BC, LCPC. (2013). Substance use and brain
reward mechanisms in older adults. Journal
of Psychosocial Nursing & Mental Health Services, 51(7),
15-20.
doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.library.uq.edu.au/10.3928/02793695-20130530-01
Taylor, E. R. (2009). Sandtray and
solution-focused therapy. International
Journal of Play Therapy, 18(1),
56-68. doi:10.1037/a0014441
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Showing posts with label Solution Focused Therapy (SFT). Show all posts
Showing posts with label Solution Focused Therapy (SFT). Show all posts
Thursday 13 November 2014
Solution Focused Therapy (SFT)
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