Solution-focused practice A toolkit for children & young people 44 tools, games, activities, exercises

Similar to other treatment modalities, solution-focused behavioral therapy is not appropriate for every client. Clients who experience severe mental health concerns including active mania, schizophrenia, and major depressive disorders would likely not benefit from solution-focused behavior therapy. A key facet of implementing solution focused therapy is the identification and utilization of your inherent strengths and resources. Recognizing these elements not only fosters resilience and hope but also empowers you, increasing your confidence in facing situations head-on.

It’s full of failures, discouragements, and hard times which can make that miracle future seem even farther away. But that’s okay, it’s actually a crucial part of the process that we all have to go through. So you see there are lots of steps and goals Stan can create in the present in order to get to his ideal future. However, this is Step 3 because it is nearly impossible to see these steps if you’re stressed, worried, and hopeless – which is why we start with Steps 1 and 2 to help provide hope and encouragement. Now that you’ve identified your biggest issue and what would happen if it was magically gone, it’s time to start setting goals for the future and creating a roadmap on how to get there.

The human brain’s thoughts work like a chain reaction, and thinking positive now helps you envision a positive future much more quickly. You have to actively imagine that things will change for the better if you intend to make strides in the same direction. You usually sit with a mental health professional and try to figure out the why of things and the root cause of all the problems. That might work for many, but many others still long to answer what will make their lives better.

It’s an exercise that not only provides clarity but also empowers you to transform your vision into tangible outcomes. These verbal accolades are a vital part of the therapeutic process, whether they are direct or indirect. They encourage you to recognize and celebrate your past successes, which in turn raises your self-esteem and strengthens the therapeutic alliance.

Creating a Solution-Focused Treatment Plan: What to Include + Example

Take the first step towards personal betterment and wellness by joining our program at Newer Mind. Contact us today to embark on a transformative journey towards achieving your goals and finding the work-life balance you desire. John is a 35-year-old male who has been struggling with feelings of hopelessness and low self-esteem since his recent divorce. John works full-time, and has recently found himself struggling with focus and motivation at work. At Anchor Within Counseling, we use Solutions-Focused Therapy to highlight the strengths, cultural wisdom, and resilience of BIPOC clients while also addressing the systemic barriers they face.

It is a brief, goal-oriented therapy that empowers clients to envision their desired future and discover practical strategies to move towards it. The techniques and exercises discussed not only provide a framework for identifying and pursuing desired outcomes but also affirm the strengths and resources each person possesses. With its emphasis on collaboration, a future-oriented mindset, and the utilization of inherent capabilities, SFT is a powerful ally in the pursuit of a fulfilling life. Solution-focused therapy uses interventions that require patient involvement to be successful.

Step 1: Access and download the worksheet

Overall, John indicated that he is in good health and has a healthy support network of his family and friends. During SFBT sessions, Counselors work to help the client find times when the problem or challenge was absent, and times when it was less severe (Seligman, Reichenberg, 2010). These moments are then explored to see what was different about them, and how the clients faced the challenge. There are circumstances, particularly when dealing with complex or severe mental health conditions like schizophrenia or major depressive disorder, where SFT may not be the most appropriate approach. Assessing the suitability of SFT should always be done on an individual basis, taking into consideration the unique needs and circumstances of each person.

SFBT Therapy Activities & Exercises to do with your Clients in Therapy

In this approach, a strong partnership based on trust and collaboration is formed between you and your therapist. Within this supportive and unbiased environment, you can freely express yourself without fear of judgment. Over a series of sessions, you and your therapist will work together to address obstacles and set goals aimed at personal growth and fulfillment. This method ensures that the techniques and strategies used are not only supportive but also empirically validated to help you achieve your therapeutic goals.

• There are many kinds of asking questions techniques, like miracle questions, exception questions, etc.
• We help with various concerns like anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship issues, and behavior challenges.
• By taking these small steps, you begin to live out the solutions you’ve envisioned, reinforcing your abilities and building confidence in your capacity to handle future obstacles.
• It’s a process that helps you recognize that even in the darkest times, there have been glimmers of light, moments when you’ve triumphed over your challenges without even realizing it.
• It’s available as one download or 11 printable sections covering different aspects of solution-focused practice.
• It is likely a good idea to go over the worksheet with your patients before they complete it so they understand what the resource asks.

Therapists often combine Solution-Focused Therapy with techniques from cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and other modalities to meet the specific needs of their clients. As indicated by its name, solution focused therapy is a short-term treatment approach. The length of treatment does vary based on the clients presenting concern and progress made in sessions.

This exercise often leads to ‘homework experiments’, practical tasks you can undertake to apply those past successful strategies to your current situation. By taking these small steps, you begin to live out the solutions you’ve envisioned, reinforcing your abilities and building confidence in your capacity to handle future obstacles. It’s a way of turning insight into action, ensuring that the lessons from the past are not just remembered but actively utilized. In the array of solution-focused techniques, coping questions serve to underscore your resilience. They prompt you to contemplate how you’ve sustained yourself amidst the mental health challenges life has presented.

Scaling Questions

A ready-made template frees up solution focused therapy activities time that would otherwise be spent creating custom templates for an individual client. This allows therapists to treat more clients within the same timeframe without impacting clinical outcomes, helping more patients achieve their goals. Strength-based questions are a key tool in solution-focused therapy and coaching, designed to help clients identify and utilize their personal strengths and resources.

Commonly asked questions

That being said, there are ways a layman can adapt strategies involved in Solution Focused Therapy as part of their Mental Health Toolbox. A Mental Health Toolbox is a collection of strategies, methods, and activities you can practice at home to maintain good mental health (and help in an emergency situation). Having a fully stocked Mental Health Toolbox is essential if visiting a mental health professional is out of financial reach as it is for many patients. Your professional opinion and experience should guide you in deciding whether to distribute our Solution-Focused Therapy Worksheet to your patients.

One of the most luring techniques is the “Miracle Question.” Here, instead of focusing on what a person couldn’t achieve, the focus is on how things would change if a miracle happened. Hence, effective ways to overcome difficulties and a path toward positive change are often sought when faced with difficulties. Say, for example, when an appliance at your home is causing problems, you might want to buy a new one, and for that, you will talk to the family. With those goals in mind, Stan starts rewriting his resume to include all the new experience he’s gotten in his labor job.

It ends up being more than he thought and he’s chuffed to see all the skills he’s gained. He also downloads an app that takes microsavings out of his newly set up bank account and builds an emergency fund for him automatically. He’s got a part time labor placement job that’s gaining him some experience and some cash to pay the bills. But he also knows that he won’t truly feel financially secure until he has a full time job with benefits and a fully loaded emergency fund. Instruct the client to think back to all the times that they relied on their strengths to get through hard times and write them down. They also have to ask at least three other people in their close social circle about what they believe the client’s strengths are and why they think so.

Solution-Focused Approach: Coaching, Therapy, Interventions

Our practitioners have lots of experience using a solution-focused approach with children of different ages, interests and needs. The worksheets and activities are designed to be used with children and young people aged 5-19 years old. Practitioners who already have some training in solution-focused practice and are looking for resources to use when working with children and young people. The approach has always been used with children and young people, as well as adults. We’ve been using solution-focused practice in our Face to Face service internal link since September 2011. Remember, your success is within reach, and Newer Mind is here to be your knowledgeable and compassionate guide on your path to personal growth and fulfilment.

He identified that if he had a steady, well paying job many of his biggest issues would be solved almost instantly. So gaining that employment would become his main focus in the goal setting process. There are a number of different ways that Solution-Focused Therapy Worksheets can be written. As we mentioned, this specific resource targets problem-solving, which is especially useful at the beginning of a patient’s treatment journey. Our template includes all the questions and prompts, making it easy for your patients to complete. Because solution-focused therapy develops interventions specifically designed to be short-term, the time a patient receives treatment is relatively short.

Compliments from your therapist can anchor you in a sense of accomplishment, making you feel motivated and more confident about your journey ahead. These moments of exception are not anomalies; they are evidence of your innate ability to navigate life’s stormy seas. It’s about harnessing what’s already within you, turning past successes into powerful tools for today and tomorrow. So, if you’re seeking a way to navigate challenges, remember that Solution-Focused Brief Therapy is more than an approach—a journey of self-discovery, resilience, and hope. While Solution-Focused Brief Therapy holds immense promise, the approach might not work for those who require an in-depth exploration of their past traumas or deeply ingrained issues. Additionally, the emphasis on solutions can sometimes downplay the significance of acknowledging and processing emotions, which can be essential for healing.