Fall 2024 SOWK 581 Week 13 - Solution-Focused Therapy

Slide 1
A flashlight shines on the words 'Solution-Focused Therapy.' Below, text reads: 'Jacob Campbell, Ph.D. LICSW, Heritage University, Fall 2024, SOWK 581, Week 14,' on a dark blue background.

Fall 2024 SOWK 581 Week 13 - Solution-Focused Therapy

title: Fall 2024 SOWK 581 Week 13 - Solution-Focused Therapy date: 2024-11-15 22:44:00 location: Heritage University tags:

  • Heritage University
  • MSW Program
  • SOWK 581

presentation_video: >

description: >

Week 13 is a synchronous week, with class on 11/16. It is the last in-person class session of the semester. The readings are about solution-focused brief therapy. The forums this week are focused on people’s intervention plans. Just an FYI about the in-person class this week together for the first class period this week.

Slide 2
Slide with 'The Plan for Week 13' title. **Agenda:** Apply for graduation, basics of solution-focused therapy, demonstration, solution-oriented family assessment, role-play activity. **Learning Objectives:** Describe therapy strategies, conduct family assessment, engage in treatment planning.

The Plan for Week 13

Agenda

  • Apply for graduation
  • Basics of solution focused therapy
  • Demonstration
  • Solution-oriented Family Assessment
  • Role-play activity

Learning Objectives

  • Describe the type of questions and strategies used in solution focused-therapy
  • Conduct a solution-oriented family assessment to define and clarify the problem, engage in meaning making, assess the customer(s) for change in the family system, set goals, and engage in collaborative treatment planning
Slide 3
A graduation application form with text annotations highlights sections: 'If you know ID, add it otherwise we will,' 'Sign and Date,' and lists course numbers. Title: 'Graduation Application. Wait, OMG... are we almost there?'

Graduation Application

Slide 4
A graphic of a flashlight illuminates the words 'Collaborative Solutions' on the right. On the left, text reads: 'Being focused on solutions doesn’t negate the importance of the collaborative process.' Additional details include 'Solution-Focused Therapy,' 'Jacob Campbell, Ph.D., LICSW, Heritage University,' and 'Fall 2024 SOWK 581,' with a citation '(Cooper & Granucci Lesser, 2022).'

Collaborative Solutions

Th term solution focused could be more likely to be misinterpreted. It is not about giving clients solutions. It is really about how we can work together with the client ton construct solutions to their problems.

Being focused on solutions doesn’t negate the importance of the collaborative process.

Slide 5
The slide features an arrow pointing from 'Hopelessness' to 'Hopeful,' signifying transition in therapy focus. Text discusses Solution-Focused Therapy. Subheading: 'Focus of Treatment for Solution-Focused Therapy.'

Focus of Treatment for Solution-Focused Therapy

The focus of treatment is on developing goals that assist the client to transition from hopelessness to hopefulness about the possibility of change.

One consideration we tend to make is in thinking about SFBT is… the change doesn’t have to be monumental. In SFBT, we often look for small changes

Slide 6
A blue slide displays various types of questions used in solution-focused therapy. These include presuppositional, exception, scaling, coping, problem tracking, and miracle questions. It provides definitions and contexts for each type.

Types of Questions Used in Solution-Focused

Solution Focused Therapy is implemented based on the focus of the treatment process and the type of questions we ask and engage our clients in. The following are the general types of questions we tend to ask:

  • Presuppositional Questions: define the “who,” “what,” “how,” and “where” of goal attainment
  • Exception Questions: draw attention to when the problem is not experienced
  • Scaling Questions: A quantitative measurement of the client’s problem
  • Coping Questions: How have managed in circumstances
  • Problem Tracking Questions: Interactive way of viewing the problem
  • The Miracle Question: What would life look like if a miracle happened?

[Whole Class Activity] Invite a student to join me who would be willing to go through some goals setting and reviewing a problem/challenge they might have. Attempt to demonstrate as many of the skills and questions as possible for 5-10 minutes as an examples. Debrief with the class afterwards for what they saw. Be thinking about complements as well… so I can use them as an example during next slide.

Slide 7
Two silhouetted figures stand facing each other with speech bubbles. Text describes three types: Direct Compliments, Indirect Compliments, and Self-Complimenting, used in solution-focused therapy. Title: 'Three Types of Complements.'

Three Types of Complements

There are three types of complements that are generally considered as a part of Solution-Focused Therapy.

A direct complement explicitly acknowledges something the client has done or said.

“You’ve been so consistent in coming to our sessions and working on your goals. That shows a lot of commitment to your growth.”

An indirect compliment can be

  • implying something positive about the client (“How have you managed to make the household so calm?”)
  • Imply something positive through a relationship (“If your children were here and I were to ask them what you do to be a good mother to them, what do you suppose they would say?”)
  • Imply that the client knows what is best (“How did you know that it is important for you to treat each of your children as though they are special?”)

The textbook describes indirect: are given from the perspective of someone who knows the client and may be considered credible. I went back to my Interviewing for Solutions book to draw out these examples.

They also recommend that of the three, we likely spend most of our time doing indirect complements

Self-complements are opportunities to recognize and reinforce signs of progress and reinforce them with indirect complements “I decided to quit using cocaine because I got smart.” We might respond with something like, “did it surprise you that you decided to do that?” or “has it been difficult?”

Slide 8
The slide presents five components of 'Solution-oriented Family Assessment': defining the problem, meaning making, determining customers for change, coauthoring a family story, and creating a change blueprint.

Solution-oriented Family Assessment - Five Components

Solution-focused really started with family work, and while there is a lot of different avenues for doing family work with it, consider these five components of Solution-oriented Family Assessment:

  1. Defining and clarifying the problem: Use productive problem finding questions…
  2. Meaning making: Eliciting the family story, referral and context, what they have tried
  3. Determining the real customer(s) for change: Visitors (who may be brought to counseling because someone else in the family thinks they have a problem), Complainants (those who express their worry or concern and are often hoping that the therapist will re-state the problem as the complainants see it), and Customers (concerned about the identified client’s problematic behaviors and most willing to work with the therapist toward new solutions)
  4. Coauthoring a new family story: Developing vision of the future (consider miracle, scaling, and problem tracking questions) in concrete/behavioral terms.
  5. Co-constructing the “blueprint for change” plan: Collaborative what to do.

Interdisciplinary collaboration is thought to be useful.

Slide 9
Title reads 'Role Play Prep' with three bullet points: think about solution-oriented family assessment, assign and plan roles for role-play, and prepare questions as a team. Context is educational.

Role Play Prep

Role play cases taken from ChatGPT. Before you start going into the the role-plays, consider the following:

  • Think about the five components of solution-oriented family assessment and the techniques of solution-focused therapy.
  • Pick a role-play and assign roles. If you need to add or subtract members, talk and develop a plan as a group. If it works, having someone just as an observer is okay.
  • Spend time prepping as a team (what questions might you ask the family and what potential responses might occur)
Slide 10
**The Robinson Family Role-Play Case****Patricia (Mom, 38):** Recently divorced nurse, overwhelmed balancing work and parenting. Struggles with guilt about divorce’s impact on kids.**Liam (Son, 14):** Introverted teenager, skipping school, isolating. Feels caught in parents’ conflicts.**Ella (Daughter, 9):** Cheerful but anxious, seeks reassurance, trouble sleeping, fears mom leaving.*Solution-Focused Therapy, Jacob Campbell, Ph.D., LICSW, Heritage University, Fall 2024 SOWK 581.*

Role Play Case: The Robinson Family

  • Patricia (Mom, 38): Recently divorced, working full-time as a nurse. She feels overwhelmed by balancing work and parenting her two children and struggles with guilt about the divorce’s impact on her kids.
  • Liam (Son, 14): A quiet and introverted teenager who has started skipping school and isolating himself in his room. He feels caught in the middle of his parents’ conflicts and worries about his future.
  • Ella (Daughter, 9): A cheerful but anxious child who seeks constant reassurance from her mother. She’s having trouble sleeping and often expresses fears about her mom leaving her.
Slide 11
A slide titled 'The Nguyen Family Role-Play Case' details challenges faced by family members: Kim, Mai, An, and Minh. It emphasizes cultural roots, loneliness, academic pressure, and attention issues.

Role Play Case: The Nguyen Family

  • Kim (Dad, 42): A first-generation immigrant who works two jobs to support the family. He feels disconnected from his children due to long work hours and worries about them losing touch with their cultural roots.
  • Mai (Mom, 40): A stay-at-home parent who struggles with loneliness and feeling unsupported. She wants to strengthen her relationship with her husband and teach her children the value of family traditions.
  • An (Daughter, 17): A high-achieving high school student who feels immense pressure to succeed academically. She’s experiencing burnout and conflict with her parents over their high expectations.
  • Minh (Son, 12): A bright and creative child who struggles with attention issues at school. He feels overshadowed by his sister’s accomplishments and wishes for more one-on-one time with his parents.
Slide 12
Slide titled 'The Morales Family Role-Play Case' describes four family members: Carlos (35, recently laid off), Rosa (34, part-time retail worker), Javier (16, outgoing teenager), and Sophia (10, sensitive child). It details their struggles with financial and emotional issues. The slide is part of a presentation on Solution-Focused Therapy, created by Jacob Campbell, Ph.D., LICSW, Heritage University, for Fall 2024 SOWK 581.

Role Play Case:The Morales Family

  • Carlos (Dad, 35): Recently laid off from his job, Carlos feels ashamed and frustrated, which has led to increased tension at home. He struggles to express his emotions and feels distant from his family.
  • Rosa (Mom, 34): A part-time retail worker who is trying to keep the household together financially and emotionally. She feels overwhelmed by her responsibilities and is worried about her husband’s well-being.
  • Javier (Son, 16): An outgoing teenager who has been getting into fights at school and pushing boundaries at home. He feels frustrated by his father’s withdrawal and struggles to find a positive outlet for his energy.
  • Sophia (Daughter, 10): A sensitive child who often acts as the peacekeeper in the family. She feels anxious when her parents argue and worries about the family’s financial struggles.
Slide 13
An illustrated scientist holds a flask on yellow background. Text lists tasks: 'Prediction task,' 'Do something different task,' 'Pretend the miracle happened task.' Bottom text: 'Solution-Focused Therapy,' 'Jacob Campbell, Ph.D.,' 'Fall 2024 SOWK 581.'

Solution-Focused Experiments

In Solution Focused work with clients, we often ask our clients to try an experiment and see how things go. Some examples of these include:

  • Prediction task: when will be a good day and what would it take
  • Do something different task: When locked into power struggles… flip the script
  • Pretend the miracle happened task: positive consequences even though history of negative behavior.