Solution-Focused Brief Therapy: Focusing on the Present (Essay Sample)

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Name:
Institution Affiliation
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Introduction
Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg are the perceived pioneers of the Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT). The model is future-oriented, goal-focused, and emphasizes on solutions rather than conditions that make individuals seek therapy. From its early establishment, SFBT has advanced to become a widely used type of brief therapy. Moreover, it is a prevalent model in various platforms including business, education, social policy, child welfare, as well as criminal justice services. Its effectiveness is evident in the eminent concepts and tools it implements. In this case, it emphasizes on executing clear, succinct and realistic goal negotiations. Based on the SFBT strategy, all clients have some ideas or clues about a decision that would enhance their lives. However, there are instances when the therapists have to assist clients in analyzing the details of their lives. (Franklin, 2012, p. 56)
Concepts and Tools
Focusing on the Present or Future
In Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, the questions emphasize either on the present or on the future. The assertion attributes to the concept that the appropriate solution to a problem is by concentrating on the workable strategies that would enhance clients’ life according to their wishes. Solution focused therapists rarely invest much effort in the past attempting to identify the origin of the problem. In Mike Richard’s case, the current story is that the family is experiencing exhaustion and depression. Despite being the head of the family, he is distant from the members including his wife and Son.
Compliments
Compliments are essential tools of SBFT, which therapists use to enhance solutions. In this case, the therapists recognize and validate any appropriate move that the client has done. On the other hand, the concept enables therapists to acknowledge the difficulty situations that clients undergo. The move is significant because it motivates individuals to change as they narrate what the therapist has been listening. Compliments illustrate that solution-focused therapists are understanding towards the clients as well as caring and will often strive to help the client.
Founded on SFBT, Mike needs a compliment to motivate him and express understanding. One of the major compliments that I would offer Mike is to ask him how he managed to keep all the other family members including Stevie physically unhurt. Such a notion would enable him to acknowledge that he was a careful driver and hence tried his best to prevent the accident. Besides, this will allow Mike to transfer the blame to the other driver and ease the depression. Acknowledging Stevie’s good performance at school despite the problem is also a pertinent complement that would enable Mike to identify that there is still more to cherish in his family.
In Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, the whole session structures on the form of specialized conversations. The latter are aimed at establishing and acquiring an individual’s notion of solutions. Certain concepts and tools are the frameworks of SFBT. These are pertinent in the clarification of solutions and developing the manner to achieve them. The first relevant concept is the identification of previous solutions. Most therapists in SFBT confirm that most clients have previously solved many problems; hence, the clients possess a clue of how to find a solution for the current problem. Therefore, to provide a perfect solution to the client, the solution-focused therapists seek to investigate prior information about the condition. Besides, they enquire some of the steps that the client took and were helpful.
Exceptions
Another major concept of SFBT is looking for exceptions especially when the client lacks a prior solution to an individual problem. In most cases, most solution-focused therapists believe that clients have recent examples of exceptions to their particular situation. These are from incidents where a problem was to occur but did not occur. It is essential to acknowledge that there is a small but significant difference between an exception and a solution. While a solution is entails, what a client has previously implemented and it has worked, an exception is what occurs instead of a problem. Arguably, most exceptions occur spontaneously without an individual’s recognition. To acquire this information from clients, solution-focused therapists ask them about instances when a similar situation was less of a problem. For example, in Mike Richard’s case, Jennifer requires an exception-finding question that would help her relationship with her husband. An effective exception-finding question would be structured as follows:
Me: Is this the only incident to cause a problem in your relationship with Mike since you two have been together?
Jennifer: No, Mike and I have had several mishaps that have affected our relationship. However, Julie’s death is the worst incident that occurred throughout our relationship.
Me: I completely understand you. However, what is different about the instances when the “mishaps” in your relationship was less of a problem?
Such an exception-finding question would help Jennifer to identify the most appropriate action to execute and save her relationship with Mike.
In solution-focused therapy, clients are encouraged to execute more of what is working. After establishing a positive attitude through the compliments, therapists invite clients to perform more of the working methods. Commonly referred to as an experiment, the concept allows clients to bring some solutions they would like to attempt.
Miracle Question
The use of a miracle question is another concept deployed at the SFBT. The miracle question is a powerful tool in establishing initial small moves towards solution achievement. The move helps clients to describe SMART steps they can implement immediately. In Mike Richard’s case, the miracle question would be as follows:
Me: I want to ask you a question that will sound a bit weird and needs some of your imagination. I hope yo...