Radiant Sunshine Training Site

Introduction

If you google “therapy cartoon”, a common illustration or image that may pop up is a client who is laying out on a sofa across from a therapist. This illustration may come with a text bubble, with words that indicate the client is doing a deep dive into their history. It may be a typical belief that therapy needs to go within the depths of childhood, be problem-centered, and lengthy,  in order to be successful. However, one approach is not a one size fits all for every client. We live in a world where brief solutions are in demand, and mental health is no different. Certain circumstances, such as time constraints, i.e. within an acute setting (hospital), lack of time a client may have due to lifestyle/responsibilities, or finances may not lend to using an approach that requires the client to attend beyond 5 sessions. Solution-Focused Therapy differs from many traditional approaches to mental health treatment. It is a future-oriented approach that, “helps clients build solutions rather than just resolve specific problems” (https://ct.counseling.org/2013/07/keeping-it-brief/).  SFT is a strengths-based approach, where the therapist helps the client identify strengths and previous successes, in order to build toward their desired destination or outcome. (Walsh, Pg, 230).  

     Course Summary

This course would benefit learners who are interested in Solution-Focused Therapy. This approach puts less focus on the presenting problem, shifts greater focus on helping clients identify strengths and previous successes in order to support their desired future outcome,  and can serve as a way to measure progress toward an attainable goal. 

This course will examine the concepts, theories, and tools used within Solution-Focused Therapy and how this approach can be an effective alternative to longer forms of therapy for appropriate client populations.  

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will be able to describe, identify and explain the main components of Solution-Focused Therapy.

• Participants will be able to describe, identify and explain the advantages and disadvantages in using Solution-Focused Therapy.

• Participants will be able to describe and demonstrate at least two of the tools used within the approach and how they are used in Solution-Focused Therapy

Course Outline

• What is Solution Focused Therapy?

• Development & History

• Cultural Implications for SFT

• Techniques used in SFT

  • Goal Setting

  • The Miracle Question

  • Scaling Question

  • The Exception Question 

• How to put in practice - Handout

  • Solution Focused Skills and Questions - PDF

• SFT Advantages and Disadvantages

• Final Points