...Solution Based Brief Therapy 1.0 Introduction As the name suggests, it is about being brief and focusing on solutions, rather than on problems. We learned a long time ago that when there is a problem, many professionals spend a great deal of time thinking, talking, and analyzing the problems, while the suffering goes on. It occurred to a team of mental health professionals at the Brief Family Therapy Center that so much time and energy, as well as many resources, are spent on talking about problems, rather than thinking about what might help us to get to solutions that would bring on realistic, reasonable relief as quickly as possible.We discovered that problems do not happen all the time. Even the most chronic problems have periods or times when the difficulties do not occur or are less intense. By studying these times when problems are less severe or even absent, we discovered that people do many positive things that they are not fully aware of. By bringing these small successes into their awareness and repeating the successful things they do when the problem is less severe, people improve their lives and become more confident about themselves.And, of course, there is nothing like experiencing small successes to help a person become more hopeful about themselves and their life. When they are more hopeful, they become more interested in creating a better life for themselves and their families. They become more hopeful about their future and want to achieve more. Because...
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...Liberty University Abstract As the world looks at the reality of communal exchange, thumbing back to historical debates of empirical and rational schools of thought, delineations from dualism to social interchange and collaboration refine hypothesis’ of undisputable truth. Reminiscent of the psychoanalytic movement with greats such as Freud, Jung and Adler, therapy, more of an art than science, and current day philosophies drive which models influence today’s truth. Reality is fashioned by language, how we feel, act and think, revealing “stories” we tell the self as contextual meanings. These beliefs now evolve one’s creation and truth. The therapist, joining in recognition of new perspectives, empowers and helps the client see that forward progress is strength within oneself. In a social constructivist point of view, the therapist detaches from the expert status of defining the problem. From family therapy and the multicultural lens, therapists now challenge cultural factors that, in turn, shape the client’s perceptions in the format of brief therapies. Keywords: brief therapies, collaborative, family therapy, social constructionism Postmodern Approach to Social Constructivism In the 21st century a paradigm shift motivated the field of psychology to unlock a fresh world view revealing the objet d'art of collective exchange. Referring to the modernistic creation of self, it is said that the anthropological essence and the search for truth is being reworked...
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...RUNNING HEAD: PERSONAL MODEL 1 Articulating Your Initial Personal Model of Therapy PERSONAL MODEL 2 Solution-Focused Brief Therapy targets on the desired outcome of therapy as a solution rather than focusing on the symptom or issues that brought someone to therapy. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) is based on a social constructionist thinking. It’s a goal directed collaborative approach that is conducted through direct observation of clients’ responses to a series of precisely constructed questions (Gehart, 2014). SFBT focuses on addressing what clients want to achieve by exploring the history and the beginnings of problems. The SFBT approach grew from the work of Steve de Shazer, Insoo Kim Berg, and their team at the team at the MIlkauekee Brief Therapy Center. Berg, de Shazer and their team spent thousands of hour’s carefully observing live and recorded therapy sessions. Any behaviors or words on the part of the therapist that reliably led to positive therapeutic change on the part of the clients were carefully noted and incorporated into the SFBT approach (Gerhart, 2014). Questions and compliments are the primary tools of the solution focused approach. Therapists refrain from making interpretations and rarely confront the clients (Gehart, 2014). SFBT is a form of talk therapy that maintains that change is inevitable and constant. Working together, the client and therapist working together...
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...Solution Focused Family Therapy for Families Coping With Suicide The Relevance of Applying This Technique to the Population Solution focused family therapy refers to a therapy model that helps clients work out on family problems by taking into considerations the resources they already have and the effective solutions they applied previously (Castro & Guterman, 2008). The therapeutic technique is based on the supposition that the clients already know the solution to their problems. The technique is a comprehensive counseling model that integrates most of the contents that fall in line with the client’s observation. The solution focused family therapy is relevant to populations contemplating suicide because of a number of reasons. For instance, the nature of solution focused therapy technique to dwell on the strengths of the client has been as a result of studies that hint that families dealing with suicide cases have natural resiliency. This implies that solution focused therapy technique works on proven strengths of families dealing with suicide issues. Therefore, the probability of failure is very minimal considering that the outcomes are already premeditated. Similarly, this family therapy model is relevant for families tackling suicide issues because it enables therapists and counselors to personalize treatment to their clients by using a series of techniques thus nurturing a more supportive approach (Castro & Guterman, 2008). These two features...
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...Capella University Dr. Ron Muchnik Family Therapy Models One of the family systems therapy models that I chose to research is Family Systems Therapy. Family Systems Therapy looks at the family as an emotional unit. The Family Systems approach is based on idea that families and their patterns of communication and interaction directly affect human beings and how they function. When applied to families, Family Systems Therapy allows therapists to evaluate the parts of a system (family) in relation to the whole. This theory further suggests that an individual’s behavior is informed by and inseparable from the functioning of his or her family of origin (GoodTherapy.org, 2007-2015). The second family systems therapy that I chose to research was Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) is based on the premise that therapists help the client or family focus and understand on the solution(s) to their problem(s) instead of understanding the problem(s) itself. SFBT ultimate goal is to create a solution based on the solution of the problem while empowering clients or members of the families to build their self-esteem and independence. In this type of therapy it is imperative that the therapist disregard their own worldview and adapt to their clients or families worldview. The goals for the family in SFBT should be definitive, small, positive, and important to the client or family (Cepeda & Davenport, 2006). Family Systems Therapy Family systems theory views the family as...
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...Solution Focused Therapy for Children Rhonda Kendrick December 11, 2014 Solution-focused therapy has a unique orientation toward non-problem times. The purpose is to help people target and amplify resources and strengths toward change (Berg, 1994). The article that I researched is about a study of using the framework of solution focused therapy with children. Children were referred by the study for presenting problems involved those relating to “behavior,” such as aggression toward peers or parents, defiance toward teachers, and conduct problems in school (i.e. non-completion of assignments, impulsivity, talking out-of-turn, and other classroom management problems). Referrals were screened out if they reported the need for treatment due to stressful life events, such as sexual abuse or if the child’s family had recently suffered a death or divorce. In the counseling session of the children, the counselors ask them questions concerning what helped them in the past with their problem. The questions asked by the counselors were usually focused on the present or on the future. That reflected on the basic belief that problems are best solved by focusing on what is already working, and how a client would like their life to be, rather than focusing on the past and what isn’t wanted. According to Nunnally (1993), “validating what clients are already doing well, and acknowledging how difficult their problems are encourages the client to change while giving the message that the...
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...Book Review 1 – ‘Children’s Solution Work’ by Insoo Kim Berg & Therese Steiner I chose to do my first book review of the year on ‘Children’s solution work’, as I was intrigued as to how this modality can be applied to children. My practice to date involves only adults so I am very keen to adopt tools and tips to effectively talk to children in a therapeutic way. I was definitely not disappointed! This book clearly demonstrated how the Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) model can be applied to the nonverbal, playful and creative habits of children. The books extensive use of examples and case studies in various contexts and situations was instrumental in demonstrating the creative techniques and strategies for working with children without relying exclusively on language. I will use this book review to discuss some of the ideas, techniques and cases that really stood out for me with the hope that I may one day incorporate them into my clinical work. “There is good harmony between SFBT and children because there are so many similarities between how children think and make sense of the world around them and the assumptions and procedures of SFBT.” One excellent example of this is the child’s relative indifference to the “cause” of a problem, over their need/desire to “fix” it. I encounter this on a daily basis with my own children. I often find myself inquiring about the cause of their problems, feeling that by doing so I will gain greater insight into their thoughts...
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...An issue that was brought up in my family was my sister having anxiety about the future. I think this issue could require solution focused therapy. For instance, my sister may benefit from the miracle question, such as if she woke up and her anxiety was gone what would that look like? This question may help her with identifying her goal and identify her issue. In addition, solution focused in therapy will consist of looking at positive exceptions in therapy. Positive exceptions will involve my sister exploring patterns relation to anxiety for example, describing the times when she does not experience anxiety. Scaling will also be helpful for my sister, such as on a scale of one to ten what is her anxiety. Furthermore, how can she move that anxiety level to a lower rating on a one to ten scale? I think by exploring the rate of her anxiety my sister will be aware that she can control...
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...The theory that was used was Solution Focused Therapy (SFT) is a relatively new form of psychotherapy, developed in the United States in the 1980s, that draws particularly on the work of the Brief Family Therapy Center in Milwaukee, USA. The particular focus of this form of practice is on interventions designed to facilitate clients finding solutions to their problems and then incrementally putting a solution into practice (Langdridge, 2006). It is used for short term treatment, it does not focus on the problem. The social worker has to know what the presenting problem is, but one does not focus much on the problem and how the problem got to being. The social worker is not looking at how it originated, how did client get to this point or how...
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...POSTMODERN APPROACHES Solution-Focused and Narrative Therapies Key Terms: Alternative story- a story that develops in counseling in contradiction to the dominant story that is embedded in a problem. Co-authoring- a co-joint process where client and counselor share responsibility for developing alternative stories. Deconstruction- exploring meaning by taking apart/unpacking the taken-for-granted categories and assumptions underlying social practices that are guised as truths. Dominant story- understanding a situation that is accepted within a culture that appears to represent reality. Dominant stories are developed through conversations in social and cultural contexts and these stories shape how people construct and constitute what people see, feel, and do. Exception questions- SF counselors inquire about times when the problem(s) have not been problematic. Shows that problems are not ever existing and always overpowering. Externalizing conversation- a way of speaking about a problem as if it is a distant entity, separate of the person. Based on the premise that people who view themselves as the problem limit themselves to the extent they cannot effectively deal with the problem. Formula first session task- observation homework given that must be completed between first and second session. They must observe what is happening in their lives that they want to continue to happening. Mapping-the-influence questions- a series of questions asked about a problem...
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...Comprehensive assessment Parent teacher Situational variability, and Important tio have different views of the situation for diagnosis Equally important is the need for gathering information about the child's parents and siblings, which provides a context for understanding how problem behaviors manifest. This information also often serves as a basis for determining how well parents and other caretakers will be able to implement treatment strategies. The clinical evaluations of ADHD must be comprehensive and multidimensional in nature, so as to capture its situational variability, its associated features, and its impact on home, school, and social functioning. This multi-method assessment approach should include: parent and child interviews parent- and teacher-completed child behavior rating scales parent self-report measures clinic-based psychological tests review of prior school and medical records individually administered intelligence testing, educational achievement testing, or screening for learning disabilities (only necessary if not completed within the past year a standard pediatric examination or neurodevelopmental screening to rule out any unusual medical conditions that might produce ADHD-like symptoms additional assessment procedures may be recommended, including vision and hearing screening, as well as formal speech and language assessment. The Key Components of a Comprehensive Assessment of AD/HD," by Arthur Anastopoulos, Ph.D., E. Paige Temple, M...
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...Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can be described as a goal-oriented psychotherapy treatment that typically takes a practical approach to problem-solving. Its short term nature and overarching goal is to adjust patterns of thinking or behaviour that may be contributing to an individual’s worries, and so change the way they feel. CBT is one of the major orientations of psychotherapy (Roth & Fonagy, 2005) and represents a unique category of psychological intervention because it derives from cognitive and behavioural psychological models of human behaviour. Just as some knowledge of a client’s background can be helpful in understanding their current state, an appreciation of how CBT developed can help us to understand its modern form. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy has its modern origins in the mid 1950’s with the work of Albert Ellis, a clinical psychologist who...
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...different types of therapy approaches on counseling. I know from my bachelors work and now that I do not feel like I connect with just one therapeutic approach. I like many different theoretical models and found myself wanting to develop an integrated therapy approach using bits and pieces from multiple therapies to create my own form of counseling. I feel that an integrated approach would best suit me as a counselor and an individual. Developing the appropriate counseling type is all dependent on the counselor's worldviews as well as those of the clients. Since I do not connect with just one theory of counseling, my worldview is very integrated. As a future mental health counselor, it is important for me to be aware of the different theoretical approaches and what best fits with me. The best way to...
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...Settings and Specialties: practice is mostly home based family therapy due to the serious physical conditions of the clients. She has worked with cases with Muscular Dystrophy, Quadriplegia, and diabetes in children. The therapy is concentrated on way to adjust to their condition and implement ways they would feel comfortable with to socialize more and feel motivated to leave the house (frustration, at times, with wheelchair, looks from other people in society, etc). For cases with Diabetes, the struggle is to have the teenager understand and protect himself or herself by not eating the foods their friends have at parties, outings, etc. She also works with the families on how to educate the schools (child's teachers) about the illness and how the school could embrace the child and create an atmosphere where the child feels more comfortable socially and the other students are not intimidated by child's wheelchair and/or presence of personal assistant or nurse. Ronit also, spent 7 years practicing in the foster home/adoption field. She worked with prospective adoptive parents during the time they meet the child they decide to adopt from the foster care system. She utilizes a brief systemic model of therapy. In her approach, the client is the expert and we work with the strengths and resources the client already possesses. In this approach (solution-focused therapy is one model of systemic therapy she uses), she and her client’s look at what has worked in the past and what was...
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...Quiz 4 Study Guide 1. A broad view of Skinner’s view of the nature of people is that: a. Children change because people love them b. Children change because of their experiences c. Children change because they can identify their emotions d. Children change because their self-talk is modified 2. Reductionism refers to: e. telescoping actions to the smallest, final source f. telescoping people to their evolutionary continuity g. telescoping people to their primary emotions h. telescoping people to their automatic thoughts 3. Behavioral counseling is an: i. Dream interpretive therapy j. Script analysis therapy k. Active, directive therapy l. Evolutionary interpretive therapy 4. In behavioral therapy knowing the origins of psychological problems is: m. Dependent on the DSM description n. Necessary for second order change o. Not necessary for change p. Creates motivation for change 5. Currently behavioral counseling uses: q. Only covert processes r. Only overt behaviors s. Neither covert processes or overt behaviors t. Both covert process and overt behaviors 6. A behavioral chain is: u. the arrangement of individual responses in a particular sequence v. the arrangement of a group of individuals working toward a specific goal w. the arrangement of a classroom by ability level ...
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