Chapter 14- Solution-Focused Therapy

Chapter 14- Solution-Focused Therapy

Solutions-focused therapy is founded on two different apporaches. One from Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg, and the other from Bill O’Hanlon. Unlike most of the other theories discussed in the text, this method is a lot quicker. In Solutions-focused therapy, clients are considered "customers" that have "complaints", in which they "hire" a counselor. During these sessions clients have a "complaint" and are expecting change. Counselors are considered experts in change even though they do not know the client's entire issue. Throughout sessions, the client shares actions related to their issues and is committed to making changes that the therapist recommends. The goals of this therapeutic style is for the client to solve their issue through fast change.

After reading this chapter and looking at the different videos on conducting solutions-focused therapy, I believe I would be able to use this method in my current graduate assistantship. In my GA, I often have many different students come see me regarding their academics. Most of my students meet with me two to three times, therefore using this method would be great, as it is not designed for long term therapy. Also, many of my students never get to their core issues, which is okay according to this therapy. Through positive reinforcement and connecting students with the right resources, they should be able to attain fast change. The only issue that I see with this method, is that often times many of my student visit my office, receive feedback and never employ them, hence no change occurs.