A Primer on Solution-Focused Therapy

1. A Primer on Solution-Focused Therapy Jeff Chang, Ph.D, R.Psych. Associate Professor Graduate Centre for Applied Psychology Athabasca University May 6, 2014

2. A Primer on Solution-Focused Therapy • Assumptions • Video demo: Process • Five useful (kinds of) questions • Relationship patterns • Resources

3. Assumptions • Attempting to understand the cause of a problem is not a necessary step toward its resolution; • Successful therapy depends on knowing where the client wants to get to; • However fixed the problem pattern seems to be, there are always times when the client is already doing some solution building; • Problems may or may not represent underlying pathology or deficits;

4. Assumptions • Sometimes only the smallest of changes is needed to set in motion a solution to the problem; • It is the counsellor’s task to: • Discover how clients can cooperate with counselling (the concept of resistance is considered unhelpful) • Listen carefully for when things are better (or not as bad) • Carefully craft your responses to amplify when things are better

5. Video demo: Process Matthew Selekman • Hypothetical solutions: The Miracle Question • Real-life exceptions: “Is a little bit of this happening already?” • Describing and amplifying solutions • In session • Between sessions • Jeff

6. Five Useful Questions • Miracle Question • Exception Questions • Relationship Questions • Coping Questions • Scaling Questions • Progress • Motivation • Optimism

7. Video demo: Process Jeff Chang • Looking for openings/listening for change • Accepting client ideas • Regrouping

8. Three Relationship Patterns • Visitor-Host • Complainant-Listener • Customer-Seller

9. Visitor-Host • Compliments only

10. Complainant-Listener: Tasks of observation and prediction Increase client's recognition of solution patterns: When the client cannot identify exceptions/doesn’t have well-formed goals: • "pay attention to what’s happening in your life that tells you the problem can be solved” • The Formula First Session Task When the client can identify exceptions, but they are random: • “pay attention to what’s going on when things are better” • "See if you can tell whether it's a normal version of the problem or a clinical version of the problem.”…. • Predict and Reconcile Task • “What are you doing when you overcome the urge to ____?”

11. Customer-Seller Tasks of action: Increasethe enactment of solutions: When the client has a clear miracle picture but cannot identify exceptions: • "Pretend the miracle happened.“ When the client is highly motivated, but does not have well-formed goals: • "Do something different” When the client has well-formed goals and deliberate exceptions • “Continue to do more of what works." When clients are motivated, but have different ideas about the solution • Coin Flip Task or The Surprise Task

12. Resources • Linda Metcalf • Michael Durrant • John Murphy