MMFT602 Chapter 12 Solution-Focused Therapy – Flashcards

Steve de Shazer's term for a style of therapy that emphasizes the solutions that families have already developed for their problems.

De Shazer's term for times when clients are temporarily free of their problems. Solution-focused therapists focus on exceptions to help clients build on successful problem-solving skills.

Someone who's not really in the market for therapy; De Shazer's term for a client who does not wish to be part of therapy, does not have a complaint, and does not wish to work on anything

Have clear complaints, but they are usually about someone else; De Shazer's term term for a relationship with a client who describes a complaint but is at present unwilling to work on solving it

Have clear complaints and are ready to take action; De Shazer's term for a client who not only complains about a problem ("complainant") but is motivated to resolve it

Invites clients to envision an unlimited range of possibilities and begins to activate a problem-solving mindset by giving them a mental picture of their goals; Asking clients to imagine how things would be if they woke up tomorrow and their problem was solved. Solution-focused therapists use the miracle question to help clients identify goals and potential solutions

Examples: "When in the recent past might the problem have happened but didn't (or was less intense or more manageable)? What's different about those times when the problem doesn't happen?"

Can help clients recognize that simply by enduring, they are more resourceful than they realize. Example: "What keeps you going under such difficult circumstances? How come things aren't worse?"

Solution-focused clients are asked to rate on a 10-point scale how much they want to resolve their problems, how bad the problem is, how much better it is than the last time, and so on. Designed to break change up into small steps

Example: "Wow! How did you do that?!"; this phrasing calls attention to the fact that the clients have already accomplished something