1. Theories of Counseling: Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
PowerPoint produced by Melinda Haley, M.S., New Mexico State University.
“This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law:
any public performance or display, including transmission of an image over a network;
preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or part, of any images;
any rental, lease, or lending of the program.”
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

2. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Basic Tenets
Developed mostly by Steve De Shazer, Insoo Berg, Eve Lipchek and Michele Weiner-Davis.
It looks at the positive side of problems and what works.
It can be used in a variety of settings with a variety of problems.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

3. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Basic Tenets
Places emphasis on the future rather than the present or past.
All people are free to make choices.
Client’s are their own experts who know what is best for them.
The therapist accepts the client's view of reality.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

4. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Basic Tenets
Therapy is collaborative and cooperative.
Uses the resources available to the client.
Goals are specific, behavioral and obtainable.
Problems are reframed in a more positive way.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

5. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Theory of Personality
Constructivism: It honors the client's subjective perception of his or her reality.
Poststructuralism: Reality arises from a consensual linguistic process. The world, our social context, and our reality are filtered through language.
Interactional Constructivism: The therapist tries to reframe or change the conceptual and/or emotional viewpoint of the client.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

6. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Theory of Personality
Constructive Alternativism: As problems are reframed, they form new solution-oriented alternatives.
Phenomenological/Humanistic/Existential Basis: Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) does not believe in the therapist as expert.
SFBT does not believe that a person’s perception is incorrect or maladjusted or in need of change.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

7. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Nature of Maladjustment
SFBT is focused on finding solutions not problems and therefore does not look at a person in the sense of being maladjusted.
It is behavior that causes maladjustment and not the innate qualities of the person.
The client’s narrative determines much about the repeated patterns of dysfunctional behavior.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

8. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Three Types of Narratives
Progressive: Indicates that clients are moving forward and acting on goals.
Stability: Indicates client’s are keeping the status quo.
Regressive: Indicates client’s are retreating from goals.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

9. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
The Counseling Process
Counselor/client relationship: Customer—Seller; Complainant—Lstener; Visitor—Host.
Customers: These clients are active and want to do something about their situation.
Complainant: These clients don’t want to do anything themselves but want someone or something else to change.
Visitor: A client who does not know or cannot verbalize his or her complaint or problem.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

10. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Basic Rules and Assumptions
“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”: The client determines the goals of counseling, not the therapist.
“Once you know what works, do more of it”: This helps the client see positive behaviors and reinforces proactive behaviors.
“If it’s broke, do something to fix it. If it doesn’t work, don’t do it again”: If it is not working there is no need to try it again.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

11. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Basic Rules and Assumptions
Focus on what is right and what is working.
Every problem has exceptions that can be turned into solutions.
Little changes lead to bigger changes.
Goals are always set in positive terms.
People do want to change for the better.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

12. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Basic Rules and Assumptions
People are highly susceptible and dependent.
Don’t ask a client to do something that he or she has not succeeded at before.
Avoid analyzing the problem.
Be efficient! Don’t look for problems or solutions that won’t work.
Be a survivor not a victim.
Focus on the present and the future, not the past.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

13. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Strategies for Helping Clients
Formula Tasks:
Goals: Helps focus the client and session immediately on goal identification.
Miracle Question: “Suppose one night a miracle happened and your problem was solved. How would you know?”
The Nightmare Question: “Think about having a terrible nightmare where your problem was amplified. What would be happening to let you know your nightmare came true?” This might be used when client minimizes or denies his or her problem.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

14. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Strategies for Helping Clients
Formula Tasks:
Labeling: Externalize the problem so that the person is not the problem but the problem is the problem.
Normalizing: Clients have complaints, issues and concerns not symptoms, problems or pathologies.
Insight: Insight is not needed to solve the problem.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

15. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Strategies for Helping Clients
Formula Tasks:
Focusing: Tangential issues are not important and complex problems can still have simple solutions.
Positive Blame: Blame positive changes on the client and work within the client’s worldview.
Don’t Know: Don’t let the client discount his or her success and when the client says “I don’t know,” ask him or her, “what if you did know?”
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

16. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Strategies for Helping Clients
Formula Tasks:
Combating Resistance: There is less resistance when we cooperate with the client.
Scaling Questions: Helps clients to quantify their concerns. “If you were to rate yourself on a scale of 1-10 with zero being your worst day and 10 being after your miracle, where would you be right now?”
Exceptions: When did the client not have the problem and what did that look like?
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

17. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Strategies for Helping Clients
Formula Tasks:
Reframing: Reframing problems into more positive terms can help encourage resolution.
Cheerleading: Support and encourage the client’s success.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

18. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Writing the Message
There are three components to the message: compliments, the bridging statement and tasks.
Compliments: Used to encourage the client and points out client strengths and efforts.
Bridging Statement: Summarizes what the client wants from counseling and sets up the discussion for the task.
Task: The homework the therapist will ask the client to do between sessions.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

19. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Advantages of SFBT
Fits in nicely with managed care and the pressure to provide effective counseling in a briefer time frame.
Emphasizes the positive attributes in clients.
It can be used effectively with a variety of clients and issues.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

20. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Disadvantages of SFBT
Critics say it is too simplistic and does not have enough empirical research to support it.
It may be contraindicated with dependent clients.
It may not adequately address clients with serious mental issues.
It may not develop the counselor/client relationship in enough depth to be therapeutic.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

21. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
SFBT with Diverse Populations
It does not attend to many multicultural tenets (e.g. understanding the client within his or her culture and worldview.)
It does not attend to the fact that problems may indeed be out of the client’s ability to change them because the problems are system bound.
It works well for clients and cultures who like a fast, no-nonsense, down-to-earth approach and who are not interested in the cognitive, behavioral or affective components of a problem.
But because the client is seen as the expert, it can work well for some clients of other cultures.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

22. Resources
Ivey, A. E., D’Andrea, M., Ivey, M. B. and Morgan, L. S. (2002). Theories of counseling
and psychotherapy: A multicultural perspective, 5th ed. Boston, MA.: Allyn &
Bacon.
James, R. K. & Gilliland, B. E. (2003). Theories and strategies in counseling and
psychotherapy, 5th ed. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
Kottler, J. A. (2002). Theories in counseling and therapy: An experiential approach.
Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”