What Is Solution-Focused Psychotherapy?

Focus problem solving: Focus problem solving is a kind of psychotherapy technology developed in short-term family therapy. It is called focus solution short-term treatment. Focus solution is to think about problems from a system perspective. System, and the client and worker are in the same system. This orientation understands the client's problems from a positive perspective, and attaches importance to the original talents and abilities of the client to correct the existing problems.

Chinese name: Focus problem solving

Applied discipline: psychology
Application range: Clinical and Counseling Psychology

Focus problem solving theory background

Soluction-Focused Brief Therapy is a psychotherapy model developed by the Steve de Shazer and Insoo Berg couples in the Bride Family Therapy Center (BFTC).

The focus solution is to think about the problem from the perspective of systems, and considers that the client's surrounding life is a system, and the client and the worker are in the same system. The former focuses on the process of change, emphasizing that small changes will accumulate large changes. It is believed that small changes will cause systemic changes, the so-called dripping through the stone and moving the whole body. The latter pays attention to the cooperative relationship between workers and clients, influencing and interacting with each other in the system. The impact of Milton Erickson's consulting theories and techniques on focus solutions cannot be ignored. The content that is closely related to focus resolution includes: focusing on time effectiveness, not focusing on the cause of the problem, focusing on the "future", emphasizing small changes, using the client's own resources, and treating the client as "stuck" (struck) "instead of" sick "and so on. In addition, the techniques in Milton Erickson's consulting technology, such as Crystal Ball, metaphor, restructuring, etc. are all commonly used consulting techniques in focus solution.

Focusing on short-term treatment comes from the tradition of MRI. Short-term consultation of MRI has a time limit (usually no more than ten times), emphasis on practice, and no history. Its impact on focus solution is: attach importance to the effect of psychotherapy; through the actual actions of the client, emphasize the accumulation of small changes to bring about big changes; get out of the pathological perspective; attach importance to interpersonal interaction and systemic views; no longer use abstract Psychological concepts to classify, label and analyze clients. At the same time, the lack of MRI, such as the overly authoritative professional relationship between the two parties, has been corrected in the focus solution school.

All in all, the main meaning of focusing on short-term treatment lies in its positive philosophical perspective. This orientation understands the client's problems from a positive perspective, and attaches importance to the original talents and abilities of the client. It does not explore where the client does Wrong, and then fix him: Instead, the focus of this orientation is to find the client s resources and successful experiences, assist the client to find effective things that can or can be done, or change the direction to do something different, guide The client exerts his own strengths and abilities, invites the client to show his achievement and self-confidence, encourages and shapes the client's positive self-fulfilling prophecies, thereby creating the possibility of change.

Focus Issues Solving Influencing Factors

The emergence of SFBT was deeply influenced by postmodernism, especially postmodern constructivism. Post-modernism opposes modernist epistemology and believes that "truth" exists in language, meaning, and culture. It was created by people, not discovered through sophisticated knowledge-seeking techniques. Constructivism, the main school of postmodernism, emphasizes that "reality" is not a world that exists outside human consciousness, but a spiritual product of human beings as observers. The reality constructed by individuals is not entirely a personal product. And deeply influenced by the language system in which they are located, people construct their personal truths through the process of language. Personal knowledge will drive people to construct, create, dominate and give meaning to their own experiences. Affected by the above ideas, postmodern psychotherapy emphasizes the thinking and learning of individual positive abilities, discards the analysis of pathological patterns, and emphasizes the influence of systemic patterns; does not aim at problem solving, and does not set the subjective subjective interpretation of true cases Sexuality and fairness, do not impose "truth" and "objectivity" on individual cases; encourage cases to discover the existence of self from the narrative process, examine how the story affects their lifestyle, and make the case change Views on issues and empowers individual cases to retell positive stories. SFBT believes that the problem of a case is not an independent objective fact, but it gradually emerges from conversation through conversation with the case. This constructed subjective reality is important.

SFBT is also influenced by the systems view of the masters of hypnotic psychotherapy, Milton H. Erickson and the Mental Research Institute (MRI). It is mainly reflected in two aspects. On the one hand, they believe that people have the ability to solve problems. When they seek assistance, they are often troubled by the immediate problem. They are constantly turning in the past ineffective methods. Therefore, they must make good use of the existing cases. And realize its potential. On the other hand, they focus their treatment on the situation when the problem does not occur. For example, the system has "black" (interaction when the problem occurs) and "white" (interaction when the problem does not occur). The traditional MRI method is modified from the black part, but the SFBT method is extended from the white part. . Because the entire system is fixed and balanced, once the white part is enlarged, the black part is reduced; the white part is increased a little, and the whole system changes.

Focus problem solving treatment concept

The basic spirit of SFBT is: Emphasizing how to solve problems rather than discovering the cause of problems; Promoting change with a positive, future-oriented, and goal-oriented attitude. The specific spirit can be reflected in the following aspects

There is no cause for focus problem solving

"Understanding the cause" is not necessary in the focus of short-term treatment. What is important is the "solution" process. The relationship between cause and effect seems difficult to identify; problems are often the product of interaction. Instead of asking questions about past causes, ask questions that explore what can be done at this time.

Focus problem solving "problem symptoms" sometimes has its positive function

The existence of the problem does not necessarily only show symptoms or weaknesses, but also has a positive function. If a child is in trouble at school and has constant problems, it seems that this child is really a problem student. However, after in-depth exploration of his family background, the teacher found that the child's parents had already divorced and did not associate with each other. Only when the child had an accident, both parents would come to school together, and the child's fantasy still hoped that the parents would return to life one day. So he only fulfilled his desire by fighting troubles. In the case, we not only see the symptoms of the problem, but also the positive function behind it, in order to use a better solution, while maintaining its positive expectations.

Focus on problem solving Cooperation and communication is the key to problem solving

During the consultation, the case and the consultant have always been in a positive interactive relationship. By listening, the consultant enters the world of the case for active action guidance, and then invites the case to further change the case, assist the case to search for new meaning, and generate new ideas and ideas. Behaviour; consultants are experts in the "process" of problem solving, and cases are the experts who know the problem best. Only by trusting and cooperating can the problem be solved.

Focus on the problem. Improper resolution is the root cause of the problem.

SFBT assumes that symptoms or problems are usually people who try to solve the problem but "form an inappropriate pattern of habits." The problem itself is not a problem, but because of the improper method of solving the problem, it causes the problem to appear, and it will even bring bigger problems.

In the face of each problem, we should consider the multi-facetedness and particularity of the problem as much as possible, and develop flexible problem-solving methods, and believe that the case is capable and responsible to develop a suitable solution and overcome difficulties, not because of the solution. The sticking caused more problems.

Focused problem solving Visitors are experts at solving their own problems

Emphasizing the case's own resources and emphasizing respect for the case's own ability to solve problems, consultants just "cause" the case to use its ability and fulfill changes, rather than "make" changes.

Focus problem solving starts from a positive meaning

Emphasize the positive power of the visitor, instead of looking at their shortcomings; Emphasize their successful experience, not failure; Emphasize the possibility of the visitor, not their limitations.

Focus on solving the snowball effect

SFBT values small changes. When small changes occur, the system is different from the original. As long as small changes are maintained, large changes will accumulate. The consultant should guide the case to see the existence and value of small changes, and be willing to promote the occurrence and persistence of small changes.

Focus problem solving has exceptions, and exceptions can solve problems

The consultant first asks the case, "What do you want in your life?" This will stop the case from complaining, face the problem squarely, and bring out the goal of action. The consultant then constructs a situation where the problem is solved, discusses more than one solution with the case, finds the most effective behavior, and encourages the case to do more.

Focus problem solving treatment tips

The skills to focus on short-term treatment models are very rich. These skills are summarized by de Shazer and colleagues in practical work experience and repeated empirical research. Based on its social constructivist background and influenced by Milton Erickson's skills, the focus-solving school emphasizes the central role of language in the treatment process, and the use of linguistic skills is very important. De Shazer points out that focus-solving school workers see therapeutic dialogue as a language game, and that such a process allows workers and clients to focus on exceptions, goals, and solutions. Therefore, we can say that the focus of the treatment technology is that the workers use a series of consultation dialogues, and the main purpose of the dialogue is to assist the client to explore possible clues to change, and then change the client's experience, perception, behavior and judgment .

Questions changed before the focus problem-solving talks

When the client is making an appointment for a psychological consultation, he has been asked to pay attention to the benign changes in the problems that plagued him before the consultation officially started. When the first formal talks are held, the workers will begin the talks with "questions changed before the talks." The worker conveys to the client the belief that "change has occurred" and "the worker wants change to be sustainable." Through this structure, establish a professional relationship with the client, and guide the client to look at the problem from a positive perspective, and jointly create a solution-oriented atmosphere. For example, ask a mother: "Is there any change in the period between the last appointment and the day you brought your son here?" This question made the mother start sharing what she had communicated with the child's teacher at the parent meeting The message, and it was the communication at the parent meeting that allowed the mother and teacher to reach an agreement on the child's behavior.

Focus problem solving exception

Affected by system theory, the focus solution school believes that change is eternal in the system. So there are always some exceptions to any dilemma, and these exceptions are the clues to how to solve the problem. And workers presuppose changes are happening in the client's problem scenario. When the client is in the problem or goal description, the worker uses the question of the exception structure to find out when the problem does not exist or the goal has occurred. Because the client usually focuses on the problem or distress. Therefore, the worker assists the client to think about the problem when it does not exist or is solved through such a question, and then constructs a solution, while at the same time reminding the client that he has the ability to solve the problem. For example, "Under what circumstances have you not encountered this problem?" "When will the problem appear less troublesome? What are the differences at this time?"

Focus Problem Solving Miracle

The miraculous question is this: "If one night, when you are sleeping, a miracle happens and the problem is solved, when you wake up the next morning, how do you know that this miracle happened? Is there any What's changed? "This problem catalyzes the mental state of solving the problem by making people see the goal clearly. At the same time, it also helps the client's eyes to go beyond the problem and understand that what they really want may not be to eliminate the problem itself, but to be able to do things that are hindered by the problem. If workers can encourage clients to set aside the problems and start doing them, then the problems will not be so serious.

Focus problem solving evaluation question

Usually workers can use 1 to represent the worst case of the problem, and 10 to represent the most anticipated situation of the client. Ask the client to evaluate the issue or related issue with a number from 1 to 10. For example: "From 1 to 10, if 1 represents the level of frustration when you first met me, and 10 represents the excitement after your miracle, what is your satisfaction with yourself now?" It can help us to simplify complex and ambiguous goals. In this way, we can identify the progress of the client, cultivate small changes, and enhance the motivation and confidence of the client.

Focus problem solving coping question

When the client overemphasizes the difficulties he or she is facing, coping questions are an excellent technique that workers can use. It challenges the client's thinking system and sense of helplessness in a gentle way, and gives a little sense of accomplishment. Responding to the question, reminding the client that he still has not fallen because of difficulties, which implies that the client has his own way of dealing with it, but he pays too much attention to the pain and ignores his own coping methods. At the same time, this method can also provide a reference for future solutions. For example, "Although divorce makes you depressed, you still take good care of your family and children! Great! I'm curious, how did you do this and get through this difficult time?"

Focus Issue Resolution Implementation Process

As a professional intervention, the focus of the treatment process and steps is clear, and has the spirit of a single consultation. That is to say, every consultation and treatment is the first and last time, so the structure of each consultation is the same. The number of consultations for short-term treatments throughout the focus can be one or multiple consecutive sessions (average of five). The duration of each consultation is approximately 60 minutes. The entire process of each consultation can be roughly divided into three phases: the dialogue phase of constructing a solution; the rest phase; the positive feedback phase. The first phase is about forty minutes, and the remaining two phases are ten minutes.

Focus problem solving

This stage is the main axis of the talks, so we call it the dialogue stage of constructive solutions. During the process of dialogue, the hints and directions produced by the workers through the "constructive pre-set questions" Educational role, trying to influence clients to change their cognition, leading to a positive way of thinking about problem solving. Therefore, the process of consultation is a dialogue process that focuses on "change". In this process, a positive, positive, and constructive orientation is emphasized, and the solution will naturally be triggered.

(1) Preparation stage

At this stage, the worker and the client greeted each other and introduced the one-hour consultation process. At the same time as the worker's explanation, the client is led into a forward-looking, future-oriented, and solution-oriented meeting. If workers use the form of working groups during the rest phase, the client also needs to be informed at this stage.

(2) Complaint stage

At this stage, the worker collects the complaints of the client with an attitude of listening, acceptance and empathy. However, unlike other schools, the focus-solving school emphasizes that this process focuses on the problem-solving actions that the client has used, that is, affirming what the client has done effectively. At the same time, in addition to reflecting the client's feelings, the workers will also suggest that there are other possibilities, in an attempt to relax the client's negative feelings, and promote the client from complaining to the goal of change.

(3) Set the target stage

At this stage, the worker will assist the client to develop concrete and feasible goals, which are the goals that the client needs, not the goals set by the worker for the client. Because when there is a goal, there is an incentive to change. The specific and feasible goals emphasized here refer to positive, specific, small steps that are within the "controllable" scope of the client and are practically feasible goals. The formation of goals is the process of cooperation between workers and clients. Techniques such as miracle questions, circular questions, ranking, and evaluation questions can be used.

(4) Searching for solutions

Once the client has set positive goals, the worker then assists the client to explore his resources to achieve the desired goal. The typical approach of the focus-solving school focuses on the details of the time, place, and event where the problem does not occur, and uses exception questions, miracle questions, and evaluation questions to elicit exceptions and their flexibility to solve problems. Develop the client's internal resources, let the client discover how he did it at that time, and lead to a solution. At the same time, it implies that the client, the workers believe that they can do it, and they have already started some useful attempts.

Focus problem solving rest phase

Usually forty minutes after the first phase, the worker will tell the case to take a ten-minute break and come back later to give feedback. During the client's rest period, the worker will step out of the consultation situation alone, review the conversation and organize it, or discuss with the members of the collaborative group center, and then return to provide the client with some feedback. As Berg & Miller mentioned, the rest period is an integrated part of the focus solution school's treatment process. This pause will make the positive feedback more focused, organized and directional.

Focus problem solving positive feedback phase

Berg believes that the focused treatment process has formulating feedback. After the rest period, the worker will give the client some feedback in about ten minutes. The feedback includes: giving praise and affirmation, providing information, and setting up homework.

(1) Give praise and affirmation

The significance of praise lies in Empowerment. Through the worker's encouragement to the client and its positive resources and abilities, the client notices the inherent strength that he originally had but was ignored, and changes the subject's subjective cognition. This enhances the client's ability and willingness to take responsibility, and encourages the client to continue to seek change.

(2) Provide information

The information provided may be the opinions or theories of the experts, it may also be the effective actions that the client is doing, or some other ideas. The purpose is to generalize the client's problems or provide different meanings and perspectives to the problems, while providing the context for forming homework.

(3) Arrange homework

Homework is homework or task that the client must complete before the next meeting, which aims to consolidate the effect of treatment, enhance confidence in change, and achieve the intended goal.

Focus on problem solving is unique

1. Focusing on short-term treatment under the banner of postmodernism, fully embodies the postmodernist ideas and the characteristics of constructivism, abandons the complexity and complexity of traditional counseling and treatment theories, and changes the past psychological counseling and treatment in retrospect and exploration The reason approach emphasizes the practicality and operability, and seeks the successful experience of the case with a positive, future-oriented, and goal-oriented attitude, starting from small steps to promote the gradual reduction of the trouble of the case.

2. The process of SFBT is concise and clear. It emphasizes the core role of language in constructing reality. It proposes to reconstruct positive language expressions and skills, implement effective information feedback, and use language as an important way to reveal and solve problems. Ingeniously designed questions in SFBT technology are the concrete manifestation of this idea.

3. SFBT emphasizes the active role of individual cases. Provide a choice of positive thinking for the therapist and individual case, away from the past pathological problematic thinking orientation, instead of exploring the bad and bad, but invite the cases together in a cooperative attitude to find good, resourceful, and useful Exceptions to form a solution to the problem.

Limitations of Focus Problem Solving

1. SFBT lacks a strong psychological foundation.

2. Some studies have shown that for more severe psychological disorders, short-term treatment cannot be more effective than long-term treatment even if it reaches more than 25 times.

3. SFBT puts too much emphasis on theoretical and technical strategies. ^[1]