Theoretical Underpinnings Of Solution-Focused Therapy (CBT)

This paper will focus on client’s presenting concerns and her biopsysocial system. Reader will explore how Solution Focused Therapy and Harm Reduction Therapy are relevant to client’s problems and why they would be most effective for client. Two intervention models that are relevant to the theories chosen will be outlined and how they relate to the client. An intervention plan that includes goals for the client will be evaluated and measured. Finally, the paper will discuss how the model chosen for intervention will have an impact on the macro level of change.

Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT) was drawn out from the work of Milton Erickson. Most people identify SFT with the variation work from Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg. Solution-focused therapy is a therapy that is action oriented and focuses on finding solutions. In SFT, the client is considered the expert (they know exactly what the problem is), and the client has the resources to find a solution. SFT does not focus on diagnoses or assessments but focuses on what the client brings to therapy. Depending on the client and the problem, SFT has a 50% successful rate. SFT has many techniques to use to assist in finding solutions for problems. These techniques range from questioning the client to having the client complete homework assignments.

The need for an alternative approach to therapy was recognized as mental health practitioners began to observe the amount of energy, time, money, and other resources spent discussing and analyzing the challenges revealed during the therapy process, while the issues originally bringing an individual to therapy continued to have a negative impact. Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg of the Brief Family Therapy Center in Milwaukee, along with their team, developed solution-focused brief therapy in the early 1980s in response to this observation. SFBT aims to develop realistic solutions as quickly as possible, rather than keeping people in therapy for long periods of time, in order to promote lasting relief for those in therapy.

Solution-focused therapy was developed in 1982 at The Brief Family Therapy Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (). SFBT was inspired by Milton Erickson and MRI models, both Insoo and Steve de Shazer Kim Berg had worked on the MRI models which SFBT is created from (Mo Yee Lee, 2011). Solution-Focused Brief Therapy is theoretically based, evidence-based, empirical researched and has been clinically practice for the past 32 years (). The assumption and basic premises of SFBT emphasized by the creators is that its merely about the techniques and more about its logic/rational (). To effectively execute SFBT it requires the clinician to “deeply” understands and the concepts to influence clients change (). Why does SFBT standout amongst others models, because SFBT practice is rooted in the present and future. The focus is not on exploring

Beck. According to Corey, this popular approach is based on the assumption that what people believe influences how they act and feel (p 236). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is known because of its effectiveness. According to Bayle & Nevel (2015), “The main objective of CBT is to alleviate distress by modifying cognitive content and process, in the process realigning thinking with reality by directly challenging maladaptive thoughts” (p. 26). The use of CBT allows the therapist to help the client reframe his/her negative thoughts into a more positive thought or outlook in a situation. The therapist is allowing the client to understand how to take a different approach in considering any given situation. Building rapport with a client would be beneficial in the process of applying this theory. A strong rapport between the client and the therapist will provide room for him/her to accept new advice and give reasons for the client to want to change negative outcomes.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a widely utilized intervention within the field of social work practice. According to Hepworth (2011), it is considered to be the cornerstone of cognitive behavioral approaches (p.408-09). CBT focuses on the premise that thoughts trigger an emotional response, which in turn triggers a behavior. It states that all behaviors are internally derived from our thoughts instead of being externally triggered. CBT is short term in duration and can provide rapid emotional progress since it is solution focused, often using concrete homework assignments to be able to assist clients in refocusing their current paradigm into something more constructive and positive in nature. Within CBT, the success (or failure) of client work is based upon accurate assessment and clear goal setting. It is the social worker’s role to hold the client accountable, encourage, listen and educate the client on the impact of their behaviors. In contrast

Solution Focus Brief Therapy is an evidence based theoretical approach that was founded by Steve, De Shazer, co-founded by Insoo, Kim Berg, and their team while they worked at the Brief Therapy Center in Milwaukee. (De Shazer, 1985, 1988, 1991, 1994; De Shazer et al.1986) and Insoo Kim Berg, (1994). The theory consist of two concepts developing conversation and reaching a

Solution focused therapy was developed in the late 1970’s by Husband and wife team Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg. Steve de Shazer was a scholar as well as a clinician, who was intrigues by Bateson’s theories of communication and Milton Erickson’s pragmatic ideas about how to influence change (Nichols, 2013). These differences stuck a cord with de Shazer and generated the theory that helped develop the solution focused therapy model. Along de Shazer and Berg, they also collaborated with several of their colleagues at the Medical Research Institute, also known as MRI, located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As the name suggests, Solution focused therapy is future focused, goal directed and focuses on the solutions of the problems. This form of therapy is also brief and the session are generally no longer than 8 weeks maximum.

In Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), the therapist would help Jeffery by focusing on the result of the proposed treatment plan rather than the problems that brought him there in the first place. This goal oriented thought process places emphasis on the present and future in lieu of the past. Moreover, the therapist would ask Jeffrey to imagine what type of future he would like and then both he and therapist would team up to devise a course of action.

Having been taught more about cognitive behavioral therapy has really given me a deeper perspective about this approach. The class lecture and in-class activity reinforced my belief that I will implement this style of therapy into my practice. While I connect with psychoanalysis, I would like to focus on most of the 10 basic principles of CBT, but after the clients gain insight. In agreement with the instructor, I believe that CBT will only help temporarily without finding out the root of their thought process. I feel it is important to find out “why” they think the way they do. By exploring and achieving insight, the client will be able to own that insight and then begin the process of CBT. With the combination of both therapeutic methods, I truly understand how counseling could be very hard and emotionally draining for a client. I recognize that the client must be willing to change and be prepared to do the hard mental work

In the area of cognitive, patients are tasked with changing their thinking and habits, and use methods to create a better outlook, according to Richards (2014). For example, if in the past the patient was conditioned to think and react negatively in a situation, through CBT the patient can be taught to react rationally and in a healthy manner.

While using SFT the clinician has several assumptions that guide the sessions. First, a client is competent to co-construct goals (Jong, 2015). Second, the client is the expert of their own life (Jong, 2015). Third, the problem and solution do not necessarily have a connection (Jong, 2015). Fourth, the client has to do something different for change to occur (Jong, 2015). Fifth,

Solution-focused therapy (SFT) is one among the many therapeutic approaches, which has its own benefits. First, it is refreshing as it focuses on human potential and growth by the therapist tapping into a client’s strengths and training them to use those strengths to cope (McCarthy & Archer, 2013). Second, the client is viewed as possessing the skills and capabilities, therefore, the therapist must take a step back, and not want to “fix” a client, rather assist by shifting the direction from the problem to their strengths (McCarthy & Archer, 2013). Third, SFT is of short duration lasting about 5 sessions, almost as much as other therapeutic sessions (McCarthy & Archer, 2013). Fourth, SFT is constantly changing and evolving, to personalize and individualize each session to each client, thus making it a great approach for clients of various multicultural backgrounds (McCarthy & Archer, 2013). Lastly, SFT can be beneficial to individuals that may need motivation, or a cheerleader/supporter. Through techniques which include “seeking exceptions to problems, mind mapping, accepting ownership of successes, cheerleading, scaling, overcoming obstacles to success, and constructing a counselor developed message that summarizes a counseling session for the client” (Fulthorp, 2015, p. 266).

The client’s mother brought her in for services because of her “rough” behaviors and aggression. With CBT, the therapist will focus on the thoughts that are causing the feelings, which are then causing the behaviors. When others tell the client something that she does not agree with or like, the client has an anger outburst and sometimes uses physical harm on the other person. The aggressive behavior could be triggered by the thought that no one else cares about what she thinks. With the CBT model, we can help the client take responsibility for her own actions. When the client plays rough with her brother, she gets angry and hits him. That behavior is triggered by the thought that client’s brother is playing too rough with her and trying to hurt her. Through redirection, the therapist can work with the client to understand how positive and negative thoughts lead to a specific thought, which then lead to a

“The Solution Focus Brief Therapy (SFBT) is all about solutions not to know much about the nature of the problems to solve, that customers want to change, and they have to do themselves (de Shazer (1988). A major factor in this questioning is the "miracle question," a question that encourages people to stop thinking about why they cannot achieve something and instead picture how their lives could be if a miracle occurred.( Davenport, Donna S.(2006). This helps them to see life in a very different way and divert attention from the cause of their problems. The Emphasis must be placed the on times when their problems are nonexistent. Ultimately, the miracle question allows the individual or couple to imagine a solution. Their answers are expected