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Solution-Focused Brief Therapy with Insoo Kim Berg

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Solution-Focused Brief Therapy with Insoo Kim Berg

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Insoo Kim Berg Solution-Focused Family Therapy Video

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Great description of this approach to counselling by Lisa Roundy

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Integration of Person-Centered Therapy and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy into Practice

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Integration of Person-Centered Therapy and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy into Practice

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These two theories resonated with me the most this semester. I like the major component of pulling out the positives from people and helping them to realize not only their strengths but also their potential. There were aspects from both that I liked and some that I did not like from one but was made for up in the other, thus I feel that integrating these two types of therapy would allow for me to develop my own personal framework for my future profession as a mental health counselor. The similar aspects that I liked was the focus on both the present and the future, fostering an environment in which the client feels free to express themselves open and honestly, the importance of the therapeutic relationship and the incorporation of goals. I believe that the client is the expert in their own lives, but feel as though the person-centered approach takes too much of a passive role in the relationship which may be a problem for clients who are looking for more direction. In relation to solution-focused brief therapy, the lack of concern for problems can present an issue for individuals who have been traumatized and need time to work through their past to get to the future. By integrating these therapies together, the therapist would create a growth-promoting environment through genuineness, empath and unconditional positive regard in which the client expresses their feelings openly and honestly and have the ability to explore their past with the therapist. Once the client has explored the past with the therapist, the focus then can shift towards the future and the client and therapist would co-create attainable, meaningful, clear goals. By integrating these therapies together, the client will be able to work on both internal and external aspects to resolve the problem. Overall, the similarities in these therapies really resonate with me and by integrating them together, the aspects of each therapy that I do not agree with are made up for in the other.

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Differences in Person-Centered Therapy and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy

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Differences in Person-Centered Therapy and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy

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Person-centered therapy focuses on internal aspects to resolve the problem while solution-focused brief therapy focuses on external aspects and exceptions to the problem.

Solution-focused brief therapy fosters a collaborative dialogue and collaboration between the client and therapist to create goals for the client while in person-centered therapy, the therapists goal is to create a growth promoting environment for the client to recognize and define goals on their own.

Recognizing the aspects that are blocking the client from growing is an important aspect of person-centered therapy while solution-focused therapy omits problems and problems are viewed as unimportant to progress.

Solution-focused brief therapy provides several techniques for the therapist to use while person-centered therapy does not but rather emphasizes that the presence of the therapist is most important with the mention of microskills the therapist should work towards.

Although there are similarities in these theories, there are also differences such as the goals of each type of therapy and utilizing theories together may cause confusion in the client if not integrated together properly. Without a proper look and understanding of each therapy, a therapist may believe that they are compatible but in reality they are not. Due to these theories focusing both the present and future, clients who need to work through their past might experience issues. Integrating these two types of therapy may also cause issues when counseling multicultural clients, whether it be that they prefer structure or do not want to discuss exceptions to their problems.

(Corey, 2013)

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Similarities between Person-Centered Therapy and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy

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Similarities between Person-Centered Therapy and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy

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There are several similarities between these two therapies. Similarities include:

The utilization of positive psychology and related components. In each case, humans are viewed as essentially having positive traits that contribute to healing.

The therapist takes a passive role in the relationship with the core belief that the client is the expert of their own lives.

The client-therapist relationship is crucial to foster change.

The therapeutic frame of reference is focused in the present and future.

The utilization of client's strengths and resources is important.

The incorporation of goals into therapy (although the way in which goals are created differ).

The creation of environment that allows the client to feel free to express and explore themselves.

(Corey, 2013)

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By the therapist taking a passive role and putting responsibility onto the client, the client begins to feel secure in exploring themselves and increase their self-understanding. Through this process, clients can express their symptoms and feel understood. Clients also are able to become more present focused and move towards self-actualization.
(Corey, 2013)

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Corey, G. (2013).  Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy.  Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning.
Insoo Kim Berg solution-focused therapy video. (2009, Jun 29). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Fe8D0hAQh0
What is person centered therapy? (2015, Sept 4). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UK3eQTUb9Gs

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Person-centered therapy faces several limitations. This type of therapy can cause a therapist to become passive and inactive which would cause difficulty in crisis interventions and with certain cultural groups. This also provides a limitation for clients who want structure and direction from their therapist.
(Corey, 2013)

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Limitations of SFBT include being too overly positive, issues surrounding the disregard of assessment and diagnosis, the lack of empirical evidence on therapy outcomes, and the possibility of relying too heavily on interventions and not focusing enough on the attitude of the therapist.
(Corey, 2013)

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Therapeutic Process

A collaborative client-therapist relationship is crucial to the solution-focused brief therapy therapeutic process, emphasizing the the client is the expert of their own life.

Walter and Peller's (1992) Four Step Process of SFBT:

Explore client's wants rather than what they do not want.

Avoid pathology and diagnostic labels. Look for what is working for them currently and encourage the continuation of that behavior.

Encourage experimentation of different things if current behavior is not working.

Go into each session as if it were the last and only session to keep therapy brief.

The structure of solution building:

Client describes their problems while therapist actively listens.

Question: "How can I be useful to you" (Corey, 2013, p. 403).

The therapist assists the client developing clear, well-defined, meaningful and attainable goals.

Question: "'What will be different in your life when your problem is solved"' (Corey, 2013, p. 403).

The therapist helps the client explore a time when this issue was less severe or absent and behaviors related to this exception.

The therapist concludes this conversation with feedback, encouragement, and homework for the next session.

The therapist and client use a rating scale to evaluate progress towards solutions and steps towards the solution along with emphasis on the next step.

Techniques & Interventions

Pretherapy change is characterized by the client setting one positive change in motion by making an appointment.

Exception questions and miracle question provide a platform for clients identify steps towards progress and allow for the client recognize a life that is not dominated by this problem.

Scaling questions help increase client's self awareness towards change and progress.

Through encouraging compliments, a suggesting task, and a bridge linking the compliment and task, the therapist provides feedback to the client allows the client to recognize differences.

(Corey, 2013)

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The therapist allows the clients to be the experts of their own lives by assuming a not-knowing position.

The therapist helps with directing the client rather than dictate what they change.

The therapist creates an environment that the client can create and explore their narratives. This is achieved through "mutual respect, dialogue, and affirmation" (Corey, 2013, p. 404).

The therapist helps the client recognize their resources and strengths they posessess to achieve their goals.

The therapist helps the client identify clear, well-defined, meaningful, and attainable goals.

(Corey, 2013)

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Goals of therapy are to:

explore what the client wants out of the relationship and what they are prepared to explore.

change the clients view from problem to solution focused.

identify clear, well-defined, meaningful, and attainable goals.

increase awareness of resources and strengths that the client possess to achieve change.

increase client's openness, optimism and hope towards change.

(Corey, 2013)

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In SFBT, the focus shifts and from talking the symptoms or problem to talking about solutions. Symptoms, diagnosis, or exploration of the problem is often ignored because it is seen as unimportant and unrelated to the solution.

(Corey, 2013)

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SFBT takes a non-pathological approach and focuses on looking for what the client is doing that has helped rather than looking for a pathology or using a diagnostic label.

SFBT assumes that no matter what shape the client is in, they still have the capability to resolve life challenges but may have lost a sense of direction or awareness of their competencies.

(Corey, 2013)

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SFBT is future focused. This type of therapy avoids the past and utilizes the present and emphasizes the future.

(Corey, 2013)

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Even though clients may be temporarily blocked with negative cognition, they have the capability to behave effectively.

Therapy can be brief if client focus on the positives and their strengths.

There are exceptions to problems and realizing these exceptions creates the possibility for rapid change.

Promotes the examinations of all sides of themselves.

Small changes are progress and lead to overall change.

Individuals want to, are capable of, and doing their best to change.

There is no right solution.

(Corey, 2013)

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Therapeutic Process:
The client-therapist relationship is central to the person-centered therapeutic process. The quality of the relationship between the therapist and client is necessary of growth and change. The therapeutic core conditions create this relationship. These core conditions consist of:

1. The therapist and client come in contact with one another in a therapeutic setting.

2 & 3. The client is feeling incongruent while the therapist is congruent.

3-5. "The therapist experiences unconditional positive regard..." and "an empathic understanding of the client's internal reference" and then tries to communicate it back to the client effectively (Corey, 2013, p.182).

Techniques
There are no techniques assigned specifically to person-centered therapy. Techniques such as active listening, reflection of feeling, supporting the client, and remaining in the moment are things a therapist should work towards and ensuring they are being used in an empathetic way to helps the client's growth. Establishing a relationship and connection with the client is crucial. Ultimately, the attitude and presence of the therapist is most important.

Interventions

Person-centered theory can be used in several settings including group, individual and family settings.

In a group setting, the therapist will work as a facilitator as opposed to a leader.

It may also be applied to crisis interventions by allowing individuals to feel heard and understood. Crisis situations may differ from other settings and the therapist may be required to use more structure.

Expressive arts therapy can take the person-centered approach to a new level, allowing the client to express their creativity.

Motivational interviewing utilizes the humanistic approach and shares some basic principles with person-centered therapy.

(Corey, 2013)

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One major premise of SFBT is that people are healthy and competent, utilizing a positive orientation.

Another major premise of SFBT is that the client is not the problem, rather the problem is the problem.

(Corey, 2013)

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The attitude of the therapist is critical rather than the technique used.

The therapist

takes a non-directive approach.

is genuine, empathetic, respectful, caring, and supportive promoting a safe environments for clients to let down their guard and explore areas of their life.

utilizes a person-to-person role as opposed to the professional role, creating equality.

remains present and accessible to client.

focuses on the present experiences.

recognizes the client is the expert.

(Corey, 2013).

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Goals of therapy include:

The client reaching a higher degree of independence and integration.

Fostering client growth so they can better cope.

Self-actualization by developing

openness to experience.

self-trust.

internal source of evaluation.

willingness to continue growing.

The client finding their own answers, define and clarify their own goals and ultimately achieve these goals.

(Corey, 2013)

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Person-centered therapy recognizes that the pathology is incongruence. The client has a discrepancy in their self-concept and their ideal self-concept.

Person-centered therapy takes a humanistic approach to pathology and rests on the belief that people have the innate ability to move away from their maladjustment to growth and change and the therapeutic relationship should promote this self-directed growth.

(Corey, 2013)

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Person-centered therapy focuses on the present and future.

(Corey, 2013)

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Person-centered therapy assumes that all people are trustworthy and client's have the "ability to move forward in a constructive manner if conditions fostering growth are present" (Corey, 2013, p. 178).

People strive towards self-actualization.

The therapist should create a growth promoting climate through

congruence or genuineness.

empathy or ability to understand the other persons world and feelings.

unconditional positive regard or acceptance.

(Corey, 2013)

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People are essentially trustworthy, resourceful, capable of self-understanding and self direction, able to make constructive changes, and live effective and productive lives.

(Corey, 2013)

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Steve de Shazer (1940-2005) &
Insoo Kim Berg (1935-2007)

Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg were the founders of SFBT which they developed in the early 1980s at the Brief Family Therapy Center in Milwaukee.

Contributors

de Shazer collaborated with several individuals, two of which created their own solution-focused institutes and created solution-oriented therapy. These individuals were Bill O'Hanlon and Michell Weiner-Davis.

(Corey, 2013)

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Carl Rodgers (1902-1987)

Rodgers grew up in a close, warm family environment although his family had strict religious standards.

He studied several different subjects in school including agriculture, history and religion and ultimately clinical psychology. Rodgers also worked in a countless fields including "education, social work, counseling, psychotherapy, group therapy, peace, and interpersonal relations" (Corey, 2013, p. 173).

Rodgers was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize due to his aspirations and efforts towards world peace, which he applied the person-centered approach to..

Rodgers founded the idea that the client-counselor relationship should foster growth and change.

He contributed to the focus of psychotherapy being on the client's strengths and resources rather than pathology.

(Corey, 2013)