Solution Focused Therapy – What Is It? Who is it for?

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Solution Focused Therapy is one of the psychotherapeutic systems. It was created in the seventies of the last century by American psychologists. What is it about?

Therapy (group or individual) in the solution-focused approach, it involves a conversation, during which the patient’s strengths are sought, focusing on solving difficulties, looking for solutions to problems, but not analyzing the causes and essence of difficulties, not referring to past experiences, not “digging” into the past.

Other tenets of Solution Focused Therapy (TSR) include:

1. the patient is an expert on his life, he only needs support;
2. focusing on the positives, the present and the future, not on failures and a difficult past;
3. building a vision of the future and setting specific goals;
4. drawing attention that the problematic reality at some moments is not so bad, and these better moments may suggest a solution to the problem;
5. small changes make big changes;
6. looking at the problem from several perspectives.

So this therapy stays somewhat as opposed to traditional therapies that focus on looking for the causes of past problems, mainly in childhood, in inappropriate family relationships. Only making the patient aware of the causes and essence of the difficulties gives a chance to solve them. This is why past-focused therapies are often long-term in nature.

In TSR, the reasons are irrelevant. A conversation with a psychotherapist is to encourage the patient to look for solutions to the problem, to use its strengths to cope with difficulties. Due to the nature of such therapy, it is referred to as solution focused short term therapy. The number of meetings in this therapy depends on the individual case, although usually it is up to 10 sessions.

Read more about selected traditional therapies:

1. Psychoanalytical psychotherapy – main assumptions, indications, course
2. Psychodynamic psychotherapy – for whom, what is it, what are its effects

Solution Focused Therapy Philosophy – Three Principles

Solution focused therapy draws from a variety of psychological strands, including humanistic, cognitive, positive and social constructivism. The person conducting the session treats reality as a subjectively perceived phenomenon and, based on it, adopts the client’s point of view. The patient’s interpretation of the world, himself and his behavior becomes the starting point and it is on this basis that setting goals and developing solutions begins.

The therapist and the client work together, using a few basic arrangements aimed at finding the simplest solutions. The central philosophy of TSR is based on 3 principles:

1. if something works, do more of it (you need to repeat behaviors that are helpful in reducing or eliminating problems),
2. if something doesn’t work, don’t do it again; do something else (abandon behaviors that do not bring positive change; look for other ways to solve difficulties),
3. if something’s not broken, don’t fix it (don’t complicate the problems, start with simple solutions).

Check it out: When to go to therapy?

It is worth paying attention to the following issues:

1. individual approach – there are no universal solutions or schemes that can be adapted to each case, therefore the approach to solving the problems of a specific person requires the development of individualized methods of operation;
2. multiplication of perspectives – solving a specific problem can be approached in various ways, therefore the answers are many, and none of them has to be better than the others; this allows you to decide on different strategies and focus on those methods that work;
3. method of small steps – a small change is key on the way to solving the problem, and excessive expectations may distort the perception of progress in therapy; if, thanks to cooperation with the therapist, it is possible to initiate a small change and work out favorable circumstances so that the patient can continue to pursue personal goals on his own;
4. the resources needed for change are in the hands of the patient – the solution-focused approach aims to focus on the patient’s strengths, extracting the resources and strength needed to be successful in tackling problems; recognizing the possessed competences and using the information acquired thanks to the experienced difficulties facilitate the identification and solving of problems;
5. the solution is not strictly related to the problem – this assumption of the TSR method differs significantly from the traditional therapeutic approach, making it possible to go beyond the scheme of searching for a relationship between the problem and its solution; therapy gives the opportunity to focus on other aspects of change – action and the future;
6. the future counts – in solution focused therapy, the future is most important, seeing the goal to which it is going, getting to know your needs and expectations better; the TSR approach emphasizes that delving into the past consumes energy resources and can take hope, therefore therapists using this method only look to the past to find exceptions, i.e. actions and situations where the client has successfully dealt with difficulties;
7. the patient knows the best solution to his problems – the patient is able to independently determine the goals of therapy, as well as the best solutions for him, but is not aware of it; a therapist using the TSR method is to help him in this;
8. everything changes – due to the constant changes taking place in life, better and worse periods or days can be selected, and in solution focused therapy, attention is paid to the better phases; usually it is from them that tips or potential solutions to current problems can be gleaned.

Also read: Dysthymia – What You Need to Know About Chronic Depression?

Solution Focused Therapy – Methods

The person going to the TSR session will work with a therapist who will use some useful techniques. One of them is scaling, which is a tool that helps in assessing various issues and problems. Using a scale (from 1 to 10) allows you to assess the severity of a given problemas well as monitoring changes occurring with the course of therapy.

One important technique that influences the patient is compliments. Its purpose is to extract the resources at its disposal, draw its attention to its advantages and strengths, and thus strengthen its self-esteem and motivation. In the solution-centered approach, compliments are based on insights and information, so it is not intended to deceive the patient but to make them aware of their potential.

Other techniques practiced in TSR are e.g. reformulation (change from negative judgments to those with positive connotations) i question about a miracle (visualization of the future in which the problem does not exist or the patient can deal with it).

also check: What is psychoesthetics?

TSR is helpful when the patient:

1. has problems with his mental health (depressive states, neuroses, etc.);
2. has difficulties in maintaining proper relationships in a marriage or partnership;
3. has difficulties in raising offspring;
4. experiences severe stress caused by, for example, the loss of a loved one, job loss, relationship crisis, accident or long-term illness;
5. is addicted or co-addicted (alcohol, drugs, gambling);
6. experiences bulimia or anorexia;
7. is a victim of violence, such as domestic violence;
8. is a perpetrator of violence.

The therapy is carried out in the form of individual and group meetings, family therapy or couple therapy. It is important not only for people seeking help individually, but also for various institutions.

Solution focused therapy is also used in:

1. social work practice (e.g. orphanages, crisis intervention centers);
2. business (human resource management);
3. coaching;
4. education and upbringing (psychological and pedagogical counseling centers, schools);
5. career counseling;
6. in the field of health protection (mental health and addiction treatment centers).

See also:

1. Psychotherapy – how much does it cost?
2. The course of psychotherapy – contracts, goals, methodology, duration
3. Psychotherapy and coping with stress

Solution Focused Therapy Training

There is an option to enroll in specific solution-focused therapy training. Training can be divided into a basic course or an advanced course. The aim of the former is to learn, first of all, the principles and ideology of solution focused therapy, and to learn how to use this therapy in practice at a basic level. It also provides knowledge-gathering exercises into a coherent system of short-term solution-focused training. Basic training usually lasts around 7 days.

The Advanced Course explores your knowledge of solution focused therapy and how to apply it across a variety of fields. The subject of this course applies to both group and individual work with the client. The Advanced Course lasts approximately 13 days.

Solution Focused Therapy Book

There are a number of books and articles on the market dedicated to solution focused therapy. Examples of items:

1. “The customer is an expert. Solution Focused Approach and its application in Poland ” – Kienhuis J., Świtek T. (eds.), Krakow 2007.
2. “Solution paths” — Tomasz Świtek, Academic Bookshop; 2009.
3. “Short-term counseling: narratives and solutions” — Judith Milner, Patrick O’Byrne, Zysk i S-ka; Poznań 2007.
4. “Therapy of adolescents with a drug problem. Solution Focused Approach ” – Jacek Szczepkowski, Akapit Educational Publishing House; Toruń 2007.
5. “Stop after short-term therapy” – Brian Cade, William O’Hanlon, Zysk i S-ka; Poznań 1996.