Essay Sample in Psychology: Solution-Focused Brief Therapy

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) is a type of therapy that places particular emphasis on the exploration and discussion of possible solutions rather than the problem (Franklin et al.,2011). To solve a problem in using therapy, the discussion of the problem is normally paramount to arriving at key solutions. The solution-based therapy does not dwell on every detail of the issue at hand during problem discussion. This type of therapy is also called the Solution Focused Therapy(SFT). Rather than trying to explore a myriad of circumstances that might be related to the problem such a delving deep into childhood encounter and experiences to find how the past has influenced the present, this form of therapy utilizes a present solution-based approach. It is a goal-oriented form of therapy (Lethem,2002). The sessions conducted in evaluating and arriving at solutions to a problem are normally firmly rooted in the present with a view of a future where the current problem will have a less negative impact on a client's life.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Order now

The origin of this therapy can be dated back to the 1970's when Steve de Shazer and Kim Berg began working together with some people to solve client's problems in an outpatient facility in Milwaukee. The main clients accepted into this program did not have any previous screening. The developers of SFBT spent countless hours trying to observe therapy sessions and noting how solutions to problems were arrived at. They closely followed the sessions' proceeding and noted activities such as therapist's questions, the emotions scenes exhibited, client behaviors and also how various approaches taken by the therapists affected the therapeutic outcomes. The clients' response to therapy was recorded. The developers then went on to preserve all questions attributed to successful therapeutic sessions and incorporated them into the SFBT method (Franklin et al.,2017).

Ever since it was developed, the SFBT has gone on to become one of the most useful and successful methods of therapy. The success of this technique can be attributed to the fact that it is a comprehensive and accommodative method of therapy. It has been applied diversely for patients in fields ranging from social policy formulation, criminal justice services and also in business. Due to its practicability in various environments, the SFBT has also been increasingly utilized in child welfare and the evaluation and treatment of domestic violence offenders and victims. One of the main hallmarks of the SFBT method is the special attention given to clear concise and purpose-driven realistic goal-oriented sessions. The SFBT assumes the following approach;

1. Looking for previous solutions; The therapists seek to provide solutions to the current problems by asking the clients to think about instances where the current problem became had a smaller impact of their lives due to undertaking specific measures. From this, the therapists can be more equipped to help the client.
2. Looking for exceptions: These are the times when clients did not experience any change in the degree of problems they are experiencing. Exceptions despite taking certain measures. Exceptions are situations that also take place spontaneously and without any conscious intention in a client's life (Dolan, n.d).
3. Present and future-focused questions: These entail questions that will make the clients reflect on their positive progress in solving a challenge they are being faced with. For example, the therapist might ask "What do you expect to be doing time like this next month that indicates you are overcoming this problem?"
4. Compliments: This entails validating some current measures that the clients have taken in a bid to solve their problems.
5. Asking the client do more of what seems to be working for them: This is to boost the client's confidence that has been reinforced by the compliments given to them about the measures they have undertaken to solve a problem (Corey, Nicholas, & Bawa,2017).
6. Miracle Questions; These types of questions are aimed at jumpstarting the fast healing process. These are questions like "What step will you take tomorrow now that you have known that your problem can be solved easily?"

The SFBT technique has found a good application in multicultural societies. South Africa, for example, is a profoundly multicultural country fragmented in wide racial and ethnic groups. The post-apartheid South Africa is made up of races such as Whites, Blacks, Coloureds, and Indians. To accommodate diversity, the country has 11 official languages. In this country, even though blacks make up the bulk of the population, they are the ones who are least educated and also the least economically empowered. Owing to this, several instances where therapist consists mainly of white and Indian panels often present themselves. Most of the people undergoing therapy are normally black youth. The SFBT model is applicable in this society to some extent. Higher success levels can be achieved if the white therapists dealing with black or Indian patients adopt a friendlier approach that reassures the clients and gives them comfort. They have to build trust with the clients for optimum results (Zhang et al.,2018). The fact that SFBT model is an accommodative model that requires their clients to negotiate their way out of their problems means that in some instances it is not very successful sometimes. Some blacks, for example, could still be uncomfortable with the white therapists and do not feel free to discuss important solutions to their problems.

The clients approach: Ways in which I believe the approach might be beneficial to me regarding present and/ past issues you have faced.

The SFBT therapy might have been very instrumental in solving some of the past issues I have faced. This approach utilizes a very friendly goal oriented and accommodative approach in arriving at solutions to issues faced by a client. For example, it could have been very beneficial in solving a drinking addiction I had a few years ago. The SFBT approach could provide a more comfortable means of overcoming the drinking problem since I could be involved in suggesting some of how I could overcome my drinking habits. The therapists utilizing the SFBT approach could have complimented me into acting more viciously against alcohol addiction. Some steps that I took personally to ensure that I quit drinking included avoiding night parties where alcohol was heavily present. Partying all night is one of the ingredients that makes it hard for any alcohol addict to stop drinking. The SFBT approach also could have aided me in suggesting possible solutions to my drinking problems and how I could have easily implemented them. For example, avoiding friends who always encourage me to continue drinking could have been one of the solutions to my drinking habits.

The main assumption of the solution based brief therapy approach is that every client has some knowledge on possible solutions to their problems and how their lives would become better if they undertook some steps (Franklin et al.,2011). Even though clients need a great deal of suggestion and negotiations about their problems from therapists, they are the main solution to their problems as per the SFBT approach. Therefore, with myself on board in my path towards recovery from alcohol addiction, this approach might have been very helpful in helping me quit drinking. Another very important hallmark of the SFBT therapy is that clients are engaged in visualizing how their future could be better if they overcome the current issues they are facing. This motivated the clients to struggle towards overcoming their challenges. In my case, being able to visualize a future without alcohol would motivate me to overcome alcohol addiction. Alcohol addiction did much harm, especially to my financial wellbeing. A future without alcohol, therefore, meant that I could save a lot of money and utilize it in improving my life. Therefore, the SFBT approach might have been a great solution to my problem.

As a client, there are some challenges that I would encounter when therapists utilize the Solution Based Brief Therapy approach in helping me solve my issues. One of the main challenges is the fear of not being helped to solve my problem. For example, I would be left to tackle any issue on my own without any help from the therapists while I am alone. This is because the SFBT approach gives the clients the power to solve their problems. What the clients say to the therapists is taken to be final. For example, to avoid disappointing the therapists, I might shy from telling them that I have been unable to solve the issue affecting me on my own. Therefore the therapists might assume that I have overcome the problem, while in a real sense I have not. The SFBT approach does not give the therapists a chance to pay regular visits and monitor their clients in helping them to solve their problems. This is a big challenge since I might not be able to solve my problem without close supervision and follow-ups from the therapists.

Another challenge that I might have possibly encountered as a client from using the SFBT approach is that I might feel pushed along without really solving the main challenge I am facing.This form of therapy utilized a present and future solution based on approach without finding out about some of the problems that I encountered in the past.Therefore, this means that this approach might no sufficiently address my problem since it lacks insight about my past encounters.The SFBT approach is shallow when it comes to making decisions based on my past.It is a more future goal-oriented approach. While understanding my other past problems might be the key to helping me solve some of my problems, the SFBT approach des not take interest in my past problems.I therefore feel that it would not adequately solve my problem.

References

Corey, G., Nicholas, L.J., & Bawa, U. (2017). Theory and practice of counselling and psychotherapy (2nd SA ed., ch. 13, pp. 369-375). SA: Cengage Learning

Franklin, C., Trepper, T. S., McCollum, E. E., & Gingerich, W. J. (Eds.). (2011). Solution-focused brief therapy: A handbook of evidence-based practice. Oxford University Press.

Zhang, A., Franklin, C., Currin-McCulloch, J., Park, S., & Kim, J. (2018). The effectiveness of strenth-based, solution-focused brief therapy in medical settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of behavioral medicine, 41(2), 139-151.

Lethem, J. (2002). Brief Solution Focused Therapy. Child & Adolescent Mental Health, 7(4), 189-192

Franklin, C., Zhang, A., Froerer, A., & Johnson, S. (2017). Solution-Focused Brief Therapy: A Systematic Review and MetaSummary of Process Research. Journal of marital and family therapy, 43(1), 16-30.

Franklin, C., Streeter, C. L., Webb, L., & Guz, S. (2018). Solution-Focused Brief Therapy in Alternative Schools: Ensuring Student Success and Preventing Dropout. Routledge.

Dolan, Y. (n.d.). What is solution focused brief therapy? Retrieved from Institute for Solution Focused Therapy.