Problem Solving Therapy – Flashcards

-Related to coping Important developmental skill -Contributes to health & wellbeing -Key skill for exerting control over one's environment & emotions -Can significantly reduce problems & improve competencies in clients

-Also referred to as structured problem solving -Involves a series of sequential stages where patients learn new problem solving skills or reactivate previously learned ones -Focus on applying skills to specific life problems associated with psychological & somatic symptoms -Therapist's role is to facilitate and support skill development -Skills can be applied to a range of life difficulties

Social Problem Solving Theory

-Three distinct phases for addressing problems --Discovery - finding solutions --Performance - implementing one of solutions --Verification - assessing if it worked -Views problem solving as a conscious, rational, effortful, and purposeful activity -Constructs of social problem solving: problem orientation (motivation to solving problem) & problem-solving skills (solution finding aspects - cognitively & behaviorally)

Approach-avoidance model of coping -Approach coping - use cognitive attempts to understand problem & behavioral strategies to deal with problem/ consequences -Avoidance- individual attempts to withdraw or avert situation Problem-and emotion-focused model of coping -Problem-focused coping - modify stressor -Emotion-based coping - manage or regulate emotional states that result from stressor

-Enhance the adoption of a positive problem orientation -Decrease one's negative orientation -Improve one's rational problem-solving skills- rational - reasonable and irrational- -Decrease one's impulsive/careless style -Decrease one's avoidance

-Individuals with depression & anxiety -At-risk youth -Caregivers - have to work on coping -Individuals in physical rehabilitation -Individuals who have been abused or experienced trauma- may feel like they can't solve problems -All individuals (children, adolescents, adults, older adults)

-Many interventions for at-risk youth focus on problem-solving and promoting resilience -Physical rehabilitation - your books specifically notes research for spinal cord injuries Individuals with traumatic brain injuries and strokes may benefit from problem solving interventions as they often have deficits in this area after their injury

Modeling - leader consistently demonstrates positive problem-solving skills. Scaffolding - relating new problem to an old one that has been successfully resolved. Major Skills Required: -Problem definition and formulation -Generation of alternative solutions -Decision making -Solution implementation & verification

-Time Wise Program -Identifying "solvable" problems -Problem solving worksheets -Creative thinking activities