Doing Solution-Focused Counseling

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Doing Solution-Focused Counseling

• ACA 2009 Conference Charlotte, North Carolina
• Education Session Program ID218 200 p.m.
  330 p.m.
• Jeffrey T. Guterman, Ph.D. March 21, 2009

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Introduction toSolution-Focused Counseling

• Solution-Focused Counseling is a strength-based
  and model that emphasizes clients existing
  resources and problem-solving skills to bring
  about brief and effective change.
• Principles of Solution-Focused Counseling
• Solution-focus
• Collaborative approach
• Small changes can lead to big results
• Emphasis on process
• Brief by design, but not always
• Responsiveness to diversity

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Introduction toSolution-Focused Counseling

• Problem/Exception
• For every problem there is an exception (either
  actual or potential). Accordingly, in
  solution-focused counseling, a problem is
  conceptualized as Problem/Exception.

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Objective and Goals

• Objective
• Learn advanced and innovative techniques in
  solution-focused counseling.
• Goals
• Identify and review specific solution-focused
  counseling techniques.
• Practice solution-focused counseling exercises.

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Identifying Exceptions

• Identifying exceptions can help clients begin
  working toward solutions.
• Presuppositional questioning
• When has there been a time when the problem did
  not happen?
• versus
• Has there been a time when the problem did not
  happen?
• If exceptions are not identified, then seek small
  changes.

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Identifying Potential Exceptions

• If clients are unable to identify exceptions,
  then attempt to identify potential exceptions.
• Questions aimed at identifying potential
  exceptions
• What will it be like when you are coping better
  with the problem?
• Crystal Ball Technique
• Miracle Question

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Amplifying Exceptions

• Increase the frequency, intensity, and duration
  of exceptions.
• Ascribe significant meaning to exceptions.

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Questions Aimed atAmplifying Exceptions

• How did you make that happen?
• How is that different from how you have dealt
  with the problem in the past?
• How did it make your day go differently?
• Who else noticed?
• What did you tell yourself to make it happen?
• What does this say about you and your ability to
  deal with this problem?
• What are the possibilities?

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Group Exercise

• Think about a time when in your work as a
  counselor you were particularly effective at
  helping a client identify and build upon their
  own resources, strengths, and problem-solving
  capabilities and thereby develop a solution. Feel
  free to share your answers to the questions below
  with the group.
• What did you do to make it happen?
• What skills did you use?
• How did you act differently in this case as
  compared to other cases?
• What was different in this counseling
  relationship?