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Solution-Focused Therapy

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Solution-Focused Therapy
Solution-Focused Therapy
Solution–focused therapy (SFT), unlike other forms of therapy argues that a person doesn’t have to understand any problem in order to resolve the problem and that the solution isn’t necessarily related to the problem. The purpose of this paper is to give a brief overview, description and rationale of Solution-focused therapy as well as an explanation of the therapeutic processes involved in SFT. This paper will also demonstrate through case example; systemic case conceptualization/hypotheses, goals of treatment, as well as interventions used through the entire treatment plan process.
Solution-focused therapy “focuses on people’s competence rather than their deficits, their strengths rather than their weaknesses, their possibilities rather than their limitations” (O’Hanlon, H., Weiner-Davis, M. (1989, p. 1.).
Solution-focused therapy (SFT), also known as Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) was developed in the 1980’s by Steve de Shazer, Insoo Kim Berg, along with their team, Patricia Hudson, Williams - Hanlon, Eve Lipchilk, Jane Peller, Scott Miller, John Walter, and Michelle Wiener-Davis from the Brief Family Therapy Family Center in Milwaukee, USA. This theory was based on over twenty years of empirical research, theoretical development, as well as clinical practice. Solution focused therapy (SFT) targets the desired therapeutic outcomes of therapy as a solution without focusing on the issues or behaviors that brought the client to therapy. This form of therapy is a competency based model which is different in many ways from the traditional theories or approaches (Berg, I.K., (1994).The therapist encourages the client to envision their ideal future; collaborating with the client to establish a group of steps needed to achieve the desired goal. By examining and analyzing the client’s vision, the therapist can determine what abilities, skills and resources the client can develop and use in order to achieve the envisioned outcome. de



References: Bannink, F. P. (2007). Solution-Focused Brief Therapy: Journal Of Contemporary Psychotherapy, (2), 87. Berg, I.K. (1994). Family Based Services: A Solution-Focused Approach. New York: Norton & Co. de Shazer, S. (1985). Keys to solution in brief therapy. New York: Norton. O’Hanlon H., Weiner-Davis, M. (1989). In Search of Solutions: A New Direction in Psychotherapy. New York: Norton. Walter, J. L., Peller, J. E. (1992). Becoming solution-focused in brief therapy. New York: Brunner/Mazel.

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