Solution-Focused Therapy Paper
Solution-Focused Therapy Paper
Angela French
Grand Canyon University
Marriage and Family Therapy
PCN: 521
Nissa Chadwick
February 19, 2015
Solution-Focused Therapy Paper
Solution-Focused therapy (SFT) and Narrative therapy are both effective forms of therapy that are different from traditional approaches to therapeutic change. While many forms of therapy focus on the presenting issues and concerns, these therapeutic approaches seek to focus on clients’ strength and abilities in order to locate solutions. This writer will explain both Solution-Focused and Narrative therapy and what role the therapist holds when implementing these therapeutic approaches.
SFT was developed as a brief form of therapy that focuses on being positive and finding solutions. “Solution-focused therapists do not make diagnoses, try to promote insight, or analyze the past. Instead they encourage the client to recognize and implement alternatives” (Harvard Mental Health Letter, 2006, p. 4) by utilizing techniques such as asking miracle questions, exception questions, coping questions and scaling questions (Harvard Mental Health Letter, 2006). In the SFT approach, the goal of the provider is to “steer the conversation toward hypothetical solutions, exceptions to the problem, and solution descriptions” (Chang & …show more content…
Nylund, 2013, p. 73). An effective SFT provider will build rapport, identify problematic patters, assist the client in goal setting, explore strengths and solutions, and encourage healthy coping skills. Therapists who use SFT should work to see the client rather than the problem, focus on resources available rather than any deficits, lead clients to identify their own goals and what they would hope for their future, help clients to see their strengths (Cook, 2014).
Narrative therapy is another positive and strength-based approach that seeks to help clients deconstruct negative stories and perspectives they have. This approach seeks to “deconstruct the discourses that support the problem” (Chang & Nylund, 2013, p. 73). In Narrative therapy, the counselor does not act as an expert but rather allows the clients to be the expert on their lives. Narrative providers have a conversation similar to that of an interview with the client in which the pressure of blame or defensiveness can be reduced. “The role of the narrative therapist is to hear the stories that people bring in with them, to investigate the role of the problem and its effects, to be curious about the times a person has resisted the problem, to try to understand what effort, knowledge, experience and strength this resistance required, and to wonder whether this resistance can be expanded” (Patterson, 2014, para. 1). If the provider upholds their role in this form of therapy, clients are able to focus on their abilities to handle their own situations or presenting problems by telling their story and working through solutions in the process.
With Solution-Focused therapy and Narrative therapy, there are similarities and differences in how the provider interacts with their clients and what their roles are.
In both forms of therapy, providers are not seen as the experts, they seek to form a collaborative relationship, and both seek to avoid predicting, interpreting or pathologizing when working with their client. A difference between SFT and Narrative therapy would be, the SFT therapist is seen as a cheerleader or coach while the narrative therapist is more of an active listener who shows empathy and curiosity. Both forms of therapy are effective and assist clients in focusing on solutions rather than
problems.
References
Chang, J., & Nylund, D. (2013). Narrative and solution-focused therapies: A twenty-year retrospective. Journal of Systemic Therapies, 32(2), 72-88. http://dx.doi.org/Retrieved from
Cook, F. (2014). Solution-Focused brief therapy. Retrieved from www.stutteringhelp.org/solution-focused-brief-therapy
Harvard Mental Health Letter. (2006). Solution-focused therapy. Harvard Mental Health Letter, 23(3), 4-6. http://dx.doi.org/Retrieved from
Patterson, C. (2014). Narrative Therapy Techniques. Retrieved from faculty.education.ufl.edu/Myrick/CMethods/Narratives.html
Angela French
Grand Canyon University
Marriage and Family Therapy
PCN: 521
Nissa Chadwick
February 19, 2015
Solution-Focused Therapy Paper
Solution-Focused therapy (SFT) and Narrative therapy are both effective forms of therapy that are different from traditional approaches to therapeutic change. While many forms of therapy focus on the presenting issues and concerns, these therapeutic approaches seek to focus on clients’ strength and abilities in order to locate solutions. This writer will explain both Solution-Focused and Narrative therapy and what role the therapist holds when implementing these therapeutic approaches.
SFT was developed as a brief form of therapy that focuses on being positive and finding solutions. “Solution-focused therapists do not make diagnoses, try to promote insight, or analyze the past. Instead they encourage the client to recognize and implement alternatives” (Harvard Mental Health Letter, 2006, p. 4) by utilizing techniques such as asking miracle questions, exception questions, coping questions and scaling questions (Harvard Mental Health Letter, 2006). In the SFT approach, the goal of the provider is to “steer the conversation toward hypothetical solutions, exceptions to the problem, and solution descriptions” (Chang & …show more content…
Nylund, 2013, p. 73). An effective SFT provider will build rapport, identify problematic patters, assist the client in goal setting, explore strengths and solutions, and encourage healthy coping skills. Therapists who use SFT should work to see the client rather than the problem, focus on resources available rather than any deficits, lead clients to identify their own goals and what they would hope for their future, help clients to see their strengths (Cook, 2014).
Narrative therapy is another positive and strength-based approach that seeks to help clients deconstruct negative stories and perspectives they have. This approach seeks to “deconstruct the discourses that support the problem” (Chang & Nylund, 2013, p. 73). In Narrative therapy, the counselor does not act as an expert but rather allows the clients to be the expert on their lives. Narrative providers have a conversation similar to that of an interview with the client in which the pressure of blame or defensiveness can be reduced. “The role of the narrative therapist is to hear the stories that people bring in with them, to investigate the role of the problem and its effects, to be curious about the times a person has resisted the problem, to try to understand what effort, knowledge, experience and strength this resistance required, and to wonder whether this resistance can be expanded” (Patterson, 2014, para. 1). If the provider upholds their role in this form of therapy, clients are able to focus on their abilities to handle their own situations or presenting problems by telling their story and working through solutions in the process.
With Solution-Focused therapy and Narrative therapy, there are similarities and differences in how the provider interacts with their clients and what their roles are.
In both forms of therapy, providers are not seen as the experts, they seek to form a collaborative relationship, and both seek to avoid predicting, interpreting or pathologizing when working with their client. A difference between SFT and Narrative therapy would be, the SFT therapist is seen as a cheerleader or coach while the narrative therapist is more of an active listener who shows empathy and curiosity. Both forms of therapy are effective and assist clients in focusing on solutions rather than
problems.
References
Chang, J., & Nylund, D. (2013). Narrative and solution-focused therapies: A twenty-year retrospective. Journal of Systemic Therapies, 32(2), 72-88. http://dx.doi.org/Retrieved from
Cook, F. (2014). Solution-Focused brief therapy. Retrieved from www.stutteringhelp.org/solution-focused-brief-therapy
Harvard Mental Health Letter. (2006). Solution-focused therapy. Harvard Mental Health Letter, 23(3), 4-6. http://dx.doi.org/Retrieved from
Patterson, C. (2014). Narrative Therapy Techniques. Retrieved from faculty.education.ufl.edu/Myrick/CMethods/Narratives.html