Jeff Chang, Ph.D, R.Psych. Associate Professor Athabasca University European Brief Therapy Association, Leeuwarden, Netherlands September 28, 2014

Acknowledgements  Calgary Family Therapy Centre  The P family  Athabasca University Research and Study leave

Overview In this workshop, Jeff will use a client session to distinguish:  Using language purposefully to invite construction of preferred outcomes:  What does the family want?  When does it happen?  What can they do to have it happen more?  Listening for and using relational openings  Differences and distinctions  Curiosity, wonderment, surprise

Overview This collaborative approach encompasses five key interlocking activities:  Setting the relational stage  Listening for clients’ world view, strengths, and preferences  Negotiating a solvable problem or an achievable project  Opening meaningful experiences of difference  Circulating these experiences of difference

Situating myself  Living in Calgary, Alberta, Canada  Professor of counselling at Athabasca University  Clinical Supervisor at Calgary Family Therapy Centre

Situating myself  Thirty years’ experience as:  Front-line therapist in children’s mental health  Employee assistance program counsellor and supervisor  Director and program developer in children’s mental health  Reflected on the similarities and differences between SFBT and narrative therapy over the last 25 years: “Are You Solution-Focused or Narrative or What?”

Situating myself

Orienting Ideas  Think discursively and deconstructively  Think coherently  Think ecologically and systemically  Think relationally  Think developmentally  Think positively

Five Interlocking Activities This collaborative approach encompasses:  Setting the relational stage  Listening for clients’ world view, strengths, and preferences  Negotiating a solvable problem or an achievable project  Opening meaningful experiences of difference  Circulating these experiences of difference

The Interview Context:  Summer Externship at Calgary Family Therapy Centre  Consultation/demonstration interview  The P family: Parents: Kelly (F), Krista (M) Kody (12), Kori (9), Kamryn (5)  Violent outbursts Kody was in day treatment in Grade 2 More responsive to Dad than Mom Mom had to restrain him at last session

The Interview Jeff being a “goof” Seeking a problem description  Enough so that we all know why we are there Pokemon cards  “Getting to know the child apart from the problem”

The Interview “Pokemon”

The Interview  Looking for strengths/possibilities Persistence/longevity Possibilities for a metaphor?  Unexpected “gem” no. 1…  Leads to… Unexpected “gem” no. 2 Bringing up a problem: “The elephant in the room” – last week’s session  Unexpected “gem” no. 3

The Interview  “Getting to know the child apart from the problem”  Looking for strengths/possibilities Persistence/longevity Possibilities for a metaphor?  Unexpected “gem” no. 1…  Leads to… Unexpected “gem” no. 2

Contact: Presentation available at:  jeff-s-workshop-schedule jeff-s-workshop-schedule

The Most Important Thing Madhav Ghimire, the national poet of Nepal, said: “When you touch people with compassion, their good characteristics emerge”