Solution-Focused Brief Solution-Focused Brief TherapyTherapy

Techniques Techniques

ComplimentingComplimenting

• Facilitates a positive climateFacilitates a positive climate• Alleviates fears of judgement and Alleviates fears of judgement and

changechange• Responsibility enhancers Responsibility enhancers • Encourage the client using an uplifting Encourage the client using an uplifting

voice voice • Jorge is passing in school, he has made Jorge is passing in school, he has made

much progress in learning the English much progress in learning the English language, Jorge is in good physical condition, language, Jorge is in good physical condition, he has many friends in the neighborhood. he has many friends in the neighborhood.

Normalizing the problemNormalizing the problem

• Alleviates fear of being the only one with the Alleviates fear of being the only one with the problem(s)problem(s)

• Lets the client know that the therapist is aware of Lets the client know that the therapist is aware of their effort to change things. their effort to change things.

• For Jorge’s case:For Jorge’s case:– All teenagers, at some time in their adolescence, have All teenagers, at some time in their adolescence, have

conflicts with their parents/caregivers. conflicts with their parents/caregivers. – All parents worry about their children; it’s a normal thing to All parents worry about their children; it’s a normal thing to

wonder what your kid is doing when out of your sight.wonder what your kid is doing when out of your sight.– There will always be people that do things that you don’t There will always be people that do things that you don’t

necessarily agree with, and that’s okay. Stick to your values.necessarily agree with, and that’s okay. Stick to your values.– Everyone experiences anxiety; sometimes it can seem Everyone experiences anxiety; sometimes it can seem

overwhelming.overwhelming.

Examples of normalizing the Examples of normalizing the problem:problem:• ““It’s ok that you and your Aunt and Uncle are sometimes It’s ok that you and your Aunt and Uncle are sometimes

fighting. Every kid at some time will have a conflict with fighting. Every kid at some time will have a conflict with their parents.”their parents.”

• ““It is often a parent’s natural duty to be concerned with It is often a parent’s natural duty to be concerned with where their child is at and what their child is doing. So, your where their child is at and what their child is doing. So, your Aunt and Uncle’s worrying is just natural considering where Aunt and Uncle’s worrying is just natural considering where you live with the gang activity going on.”you live with the gang activity going on.”

• ““And you know, that’s okay that you are not joining in the And you know, that’s okay that you are not joining in the gang activity. There will always be someone/something gang activity. There will always be someone/something with which you don’t agree, and that is okay.”with which you don’t agree, and that is okay.”

• ““Life is hard sometimes, not knowing which way to go and Life is hard sometimes, not knowing which way to go and what to do, and so many other people experience anxiety. what to do, and so many other people experience anxiety. Sometimes life seems so overwhelming. You are not alone Sometimes life seems so overwhelming. You are not alone in these episodes.” in these episodes.”

ExceptionsExceptions

• Make note of the times when the Make note of the times when the problem is NOT happening.problem is NOT happening.

• Find out how the spontaneous Find out how the spontaneous exceptions are happening and what exceptions are happening and what is different about those times.is different about those times.

• Always focus on the positive.Always focus on the positive.

Examples of exceptions:Examples of exceptions:

• ““Tell me Jorge, when are these panic attacks NOT Tell me Jorge, when are these panic attacks NOT happening?” happening?”

• ““What are you doing when the attacks DON’T What are you doing when the attacks DON’T come?”come?”

• Contextual differences: “What is different about Contextual differences: “What is different about these times?”these times?”

• Specification (from client’s perspective): “What are Specification (from client’s perspective): “What are you doing differently?” and “How are you thinking you doing differently?” and “How are you thinking differently?”differently?”

• Specification (from other’s perspective): “How are Specification (from other’s perspective): “How are you being perceived by others as acting you being perceived by others as acting differently?” differently?”

Well-defined goalsWell-defined goals

• In a positive representationIn a positive representation• In a process formIn a process form

– ““Doing”Doing”– ““Feeling”Feeling”– ““Acting”Acting”

• In the here and nowIn the here and now• As specific as possibleAs specific as possible

– Behavioral changesBehavioral changes• Within the client’s control -> action can be Within the client’s control -> action can be

started and maintained by the clientstarted and maintained by the client– What the client can do, not others actionsWhat the client can do, not others actions

• In the client’s languageIn the client’s language

Goal SettingGoal Setting

• Set goals with the client, Jorge, as the expert (what Jorge Set goals with the client, Jorge, as the expert (what Jorge would like to see happen)would like to see happen)– ““What would you like to see happen? What would you like to What would you like to see happen? What would you like to

change, Jorge?”change, Jorge?”• goals are small and attainable (make sure that it’s goals are small and attainable (make sure that it’s

something that Jorge can accomplish)something that Jorge can accomplish)– ““What will be the first sign that you are achieving your goal?” What will be the first sign that you are achieving your goal?”

• Behavioral and specific in content (be sure to get specific Behavioral and specific in content (be sure to get specific behaviors that Jorge will do to change the situation)behaviors that Jorge will do to change the situation)– ““What will you be doing when you have changed?”What will you be doing when you have changed?”

• Presence of something, not absence of something (not the Presence of something, not absence of something (not the absence of his panic attacks)absence of his panic attacks)

• Normalize setbacks (discuss with Jorge that these goals Normalize setbacks (discuss with Jorge that these goals may be hard work) may be hard work)

HypotheticalsHypotheticals

• These are the wanted solutions to the These are the wanted solutions to the problem, if a miracle happened, i.e.problem, if a miracle happened, i.e.

• Used when clients have difficulty coming Used when clients have difficulty coming up with exceptions.up with exceptions.

• Can be used as a check on how exceptions Can be used as a check on how exceptions compare to imagined solution.compare to imagined solution.

Examples of hypotheticals:Examples of hypotheticals:

• ““If this was your last session, Jorge, and you If this was your last session, Jorge, and you were walking out with the problem solved, were walking out with the problem solved, what would you be doing differently?”what would you be doing differently?”

• ““If a miracle happened one night while you If a miracle happened one night while you were asleep, and you woke up in the morning were asleep, and you woke up in the morning with your problem solved, what would be with your problem solved, what would be different? How would you be acting different? How would you be acting differently? How would your Aunt Celia and differently? How would your Aunt Celia and Uncle Paco perceive you as acting Uncle Paco perceive you as acting differently?”differently?”

• Or “If coming here was useful to you, what Or “If coming here was useful to you, what would you be doing differently?” would you be doing differently?”

Follow up withFollow up with

““Ok, so tell me about some times Ok, so tell me about some times when this (the solution; exception; when this (the solution; exception; hypothetical) is already happening hypothetical) is already happening

a little bit now.”a little bit now.”

Assignments/TasksAssignments/Tasks

• Observe for positives Observe for positives What is Jorge doing What is Jorge doing now that is good for his situation? now that is good for his situation? – ““So, as you continue to do these things, will you So, as you continue to do these things, will you

think that you are on track to solving your think that you are on track to solving your problem?”problem?”

• Do more of these positives Do more of these positives – ““How would you keep doing the positives? How How would you keep doing the positives? How

will others know that you are keeping this going?”will others know that you are keeping this going?”• Find out how the spontaneous exceptions are Find out how the spontaneous exceptions are

happening; make note of it happening; make note of it • If no exceptions If no exceptions do some small piece of do some small piece of

the hypothetical solutionthe hypothetical solution