TEACHING SOLUTIONBUILDING SKILLS TO HELPING PROFESSIONS:

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TEACHING SOLUTION-BUILDING SKILLS TOHELPING
PROFESSIONS

• Tri-Phase Microanalysis Approach SFBTA Annual
  Convention
• Toronto 2007
• Ronald E Warner
• University of Toronto
• (ronald.warner_at_utoronto.ca)

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SOLUTION BUILDING PROCESSTri-Phase Model
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SOLUTION BUILDING PROCESSTri-Phase Model

• Empathy Phase Helping the client to feel
  understood
• Goal Phase Discovering what the client wants out
  of the interview
• Strategy Phase How to achieve the goals and
  solution to the problem

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EMPATHY PHASE Establishing Rapport

• Includes all the active listening and reflecting
  skills
• Identifying and Complimenting Strengths and
  resources
• On handling feelings and negative emotions
  acknowledge/validate but do not encourage
  exploration or expansion

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GOAL PHASE (2) Discovering Whats Wanted

• What does the client want out of the interview
  and/or situation?
• Well formed SF goals defined in
• behavioural, small, and positive terms

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GOAL PHASE QUESTIONS

• Use any questions that lead to a direction-
  whats wanted, and elicit details
• What would you like to have different here?
• What would that look like?
• How could I help you with that?
• How are you hoping that this visit might be
  helpful?

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GOAL ASSESSMENTDetermining Enhancing
Motivation

• How important is it, for you, to achieve that
  goal? Or alternatively scale it
• On a scale of 1 to 10 where 1 is you can live
  with the situation for now, and 10 is very
  important to make the changes now, where are you?

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Strategy Phase (3) Achieving the Solution (s)

• Constructing a how to plan by
• Using one or more of the primary
  interventions/questions Exceptions, Outcomes,
  Scaling, Relationship, and Coping questions
• Includes the End of Session Next Step Task
  Assignment

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PRIMARY QUESTIONS/TOOLS of the STRATEGY PHASE

• Using one or more of the following questions to
  promote solution-building
• Exceptions
• Outcomes
• Scaling
• Relationship
• Coping

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A MICROANALYSIS CASE STUDY REPORT

• ASSESSING SOLUTION-BUILDING SKILLS
• FOR THE CLINICAL CASE PRESENTATION MODULE SFC
  9010
• University of Toronto
• http//www.oise.utoronto.ca/fswconted
• (JUNE 1-2, 2007)

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EXPLANTION

• Microanalysis1 is the examination of the
  theoretical presuppositions embedded in the
  questions the interviewer/therapist asks the
  client. Specifically, whether the questions
  constitute the traditional problem solving
  paradigm (i.e., exploring deficits, dysfunctions,
  and/or the notion of intrapsychic pathology) or
  the solution building paradigm focusing on
  strengths, resources, and a more hopeful future.
  With the solution building responses the student
  further analyses which of the three phases
  (Empathy, Goals, or Strategies the interventions
  best fall under. This report is intended as a
  qualitative self assessment exercise.
• 1 Bavelas, J.B., McGee, D., Phillips, B.,
  Routledge, R. (2000). Microanalysis of
  Communication in Psychotherapy. Human Systems
  The Journal of Systemic Consultation
  Management. Vol. 11, 1, p47-66

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INSTRUCTIONS

• Prior to the module conduct a solution-building
  interview of at least 20 minutes in length if
  longer select any 20 minute contiguous portion.
  Preferably videotape the interview, or if this is
  not feasible an audio tape will suffice
  students, however consistently report that
  videotape provides them with a superior learning
  experience and improved solution-building skills.
• Transcribe all of your responses to the client,
  sequentially number them for easy identification
  and counting, and place them in the Appendix of
  your report and perform the microanalysis
  answering the following six questions

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INTRUCTIONS CONTINUED

• 1) Assess each of your responses and place those
  that are problem exploring or deficit focused in
  under the category of Problem Solving.
• 2) Calculate the number of solution-building
  responses to the total number of
  problem-exploration interventions and indicate
  this ratio in your report. (e.g., 40 S.B. to 10
  P.E. responses 80 ratio)
• 3) For the remaining solution-building responses,
  make an assessment whether they could be best
  classified as falling under Empathy, Goals, or
  Strategy interventions, and place them in the
  appropriate category in your report.
• For classification purposes the End of Session
  Feedback component of SFBT should be included in
  Phase 3 with the Strategy questions. Similarly
  the identifying of strengths intervention
  component of SFBT is included with Phase 1-
  Empathy responses. Some of the interventions may
  fall under more than one phase or phase select
  the one you believe is most appropriate.
• 4) Select the best example of an Empathy, Goal,
  and Strategy interventions, and indicate verbatim
  how the client responded.
• 5) For your presentation at the Module select
  about 10 minutes of your tape that you wish to
  play for the class, and do a complete
  transcription (both your interventions and the
  clients replies) of this section. Bring 10
  copies of this transcription for your classmates
  to follow your presentation. Have your tape cued
  to the beginning of this section you wish to
  play.

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My Recent Book
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Most Useful Chapters

• Workshop Preparation
• Chapter 2 Fast Track to Beginning Practice
• The chapters on Empathy, Goals, and Strategies
  (6,7,8)

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TABLE OF CONTENTSPart One Background

• 1. Introduction and Overview
• Purpose of the Manual 1
• 2. Fast Track to Beginning Practice
• Solution-Focused Interviewing Description
  7
• Tri-Phase Model of the Solution-Building Process
  13
• 3. Human Development Models of Psychology
• Theoretical Orientations 21
• Positive Psychology Movement 30
• 4. A Paradigm Shift My Journey
• An Eclectic Beginning 47
• Providing Con. Ed. for Helping Professionals
  51

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Part 2 Tri-Phase Model

• 5. The Solution-Focused Approach
• SFBT Description and Background 55
• Development of the Tri-Phase Approach
  63
• Evaluating Solution-Focused Training 65
• 6. Empathy Phase Establishing Rapport
• Effective Listening Skills 69
• Becoming Solution-Focused 76
• Role of Emotions and Negative Feeling
  83
• 7. Goal Phase Discovering Whats Wanted
• The Key Skill of Solution-Building Be Patient
  87
• Discovering Client Goals
• Goal Development 90

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Part 2 Tri-Phase Model

• 8. Strategy Phase Striving for Goal
  Attainment
• Five Primary Interventions Questions 107
• End of Interview Break and Next Step Action Plan
  113
• Advanced Questioning Techniques 117
• Appendix 133
• Available from
• . http//www.monsoonbooks.ca80/books.html
  (Canada)
• http//www.instabookpublisher.com/tienda/product_
  info.php/products_id/3458 (USA)
• My Website www.SolutionFocusedInterviewing.Ca
• Email dr.ron_at_cogeco.ca ronald.warner_at_utoronto.ca