Family Theory upload 2

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Dec 6, 2023

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1 Family Counseling Theory Paper Institution: University of Phoenix

2 History The theory selected for this paper is Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, which is one of the world's most popular therapeutic modalities. However, this theory also focuses on finding solutions for the present, and this also helps the clients examine their hope for the future. Compared to the traditional kinds of therapy that spend time analyzing problems, pathology, and past life events to find a speedy and practical resolution to the client's difficulties. According to this approach, the client can develop the best options for improving their life if they receive the right coaching and probing from the counselor. According to the textbook Family Therapy Concepts & Methods , the notable developers of Solu- tion Focused Therapy state, "Solution-focused therapy grew out of the work of Steve de Shazer, Insoo Berg, and their colleagues at the Brief Family Therapy Center (BFTC) in Milwaukee. This training institute was started in 1979 when some of the staff at a community agency who were drawn to the MRI model became dissatisfied with the agency's constraints and broke off to form the BFTC. The initial group included married partners Steve de Shazer and Insoo Berg, Jim Derks, Elaine Nunnally, Marilyn La Court, and Eve Lipchik. Their students included John Wal- ter, Jane Peller, and Michele Weiner-Davis. The late Steve de Shazer was the founder of solution- focused therapy, and his writings are among the most inventive in this approach."(Nichols & Davis, 2017) Yvonne Dolan also applied a Solution-focused model to treat trauma and abuse. She also wrote the model's application in an agency setting. (Nichols & Davis, 2017)

3 Basis of the theory Solution-Focused Brief Therapy can be utilized as a stand-alone therapeutic intervention or in conjunction with other types of therapy and or, therapies. It is not necessarily targeted at a specific demographic. Instead, this theory seeks to treat clients of all ages and various conditions, including addiction, relationship issues, domestic or child abuse, family dysfunction, and child or adult behavioral challenges. When counselors apply the Solution-focused theory model, they should start by explaining how the client's life will change if the problem is solved or if the client's position has been improved to a level they are satisfied with. Then, by carefully examining the client's past experiences and behavioral patterns. It is also important that the therapist and client work together to create a workable, long-term so- lution that the client can easily adapt to themselves. However, this method typically entails locat- ing and considering prior exceptions, such as when the client successfully overcame or dealt with difficulties and challenges in their life. This theoretical approach is used in many different settings; according to the journal article taken from the Best Practices in Mental Health, it states that following, " Since its development in the early 1980s, SFBT has attracted increased interest within the fields of social work and marriage and family therapy and across disciplines (de Shazer et al., 2007; Trepper, Dolan, McCollum, & Nelson, 2006). During the past decade, the outcome research on SFBT has also advanced signifi- cantly (Gingerich, Kim, Geert, Stams, & Macdonald, 2012; Kim, 2008a), resulting in SFBT be- ing evaluated and recognized as an evidence-based practice for mental health and substance abuse problems (Kim, Smock, Trepper, McCullom, & Franklin, 2009).

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4 One of the strengths of the SFBT approach is that it has proven to be very adaptable and trans- portable to a variety of therapeutic contexts including behavioral health and counseling clinics, school counseling and mental health services, organizational consulting, management, child pro- tective services, and coaching. [See Franklin, Trepper, Gingerich, & McCollum (2012) for re- views of the many ways that SFBT has been adapted and used in various settings.] Although SFBT has advanced in its recognition as a useful therapeutic and counseling approach, the theory behind SFBT and the process research that explains mechanisms for how SFBT may work to pro- duce changes within clients has not advanced nearly as much."(Kim & Franklin, 2015) Techniques The cornerstone of solution-focused brief therapy is goal-setting. And a primary technique, Ac- cording to the Family Therapy Concepts & Methods textbook, summarizes that asking the client the miracle question, which is often used within this theory, is one of the first things a ther- apist may inquire about with a client: "If a miracle happened while you were sleeping tonight, what changes would you notice in your life tomorrow?"(Nichols & Davis, 2017, p.225) The basic concept of Solution-focused brief therapy is that the treatments are positive and solu- tion-focused to allow the client to only stay in therapy for a short period of time. At the same time, they enhance each client's quality of life by placing them at the center and in control of their development. Solution-focused brief therapy normally has 5-8 sessions each week on aver- age.

5 Goals are also established during the sessions. For example, a therapist may implement experi- mental acts into the client's daily life and once this is done the counselor can examine this out- come in this stage. Therefore, it is important that the client can monitor their development by tracking what works and where adjustments need to be made. Another step listed is called The Miracle Method, a technique born out of the Miracle Question presented in the textbook. Some examples of the questions are listed below: Indicate what in the client's life they would like to change. Imagine a miracle taking place, and life changes. What would that look like for the client? Make sure that the clients notice the value of the miracle. Limit the miracle's scope. The therapist should guide the client to positive, pre- cise, and behavioral language should be used to define the change. Instead of having the client describe how the journey will end, the counselor needs to ask them to describe how it will begin. Clarify who, where, and when, but leave out the reason. A layout of the process would be the following: pre-session alteration, talk without issues, the miracle question, exceptional issues, or questions, trying to change one item, scaling inquiries, coping questions and concerns, breaks, compliments, tasks, talking about solutions, considering change, and final session evaluation. According to The American Journal of Family Therapy , states the following in regard to the technique, “ Solution building focuses on the power of language to facilitate increased awareness of exceptions to client problems, thereby allowing clients to form a mental representation of solu- tions and consciously increase the frequency of solution-oriented behaviors that will allow them to achieve their goals (De Jong & Berg, 2002; Smock, 2006; Walter & Peller, 1992). Thus,

6 SFBT utilizes solution building to generate and enhance change process by operating from the following premise: “It is easier to repeat already successful behavior patterns than it is to try and stop or change existing problematic behavior” (Berg, 1994, p. 10).” (Seedall, 2009) The Process To get the families from point A to Point B the following steps would need to take place using the Solution-Focused Brief Therapy Method: Pre-session alteration When the client calls to make an appointment, the counselor can ask them whether they have no- ticed any changes between then and the time of their first visit. Talk without issues. In a sense, a problem-free conversation. This step is encouraged by all solution-focused thera- pies. However, this strategy refers especially to instances when therapists give their clients a chance to talk about themselves and their hobbies without bringing up the problem. These dis- cussions may provide details that benefit the therapist, such as  Understanding how to interact with clients,  observing which metaphors or analogies relate to their environment, and  Identifying clients' strengths and values is important for developing solutions; these steps are prerequisites.

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7 The miracle question. By using the miraculous question technique, counselors can help clients think "outside the box" in terms of fresh possibilities and outcomes for the future. According to the textbook, miracle questioning has been put to thousands of people worldwide. It is also improved or revised as practitioners experiment with various approaches by asking it in various ways. The best way to phrase the question is deliberately and dramatically. For instance, a question that may be presented to the client that would look like a miracle ques- tion is the following, the therapist can say that they have an interesting question for the client. What if a miracle occurs while they are asleep, and everything in the house is peaceful? The fact is that the issue that led the client to come in to seek therapy, this issue has been re- solved as a miracle. The client is still envisioning themselves as sleeping, though, so they are un- aware that a miracle has occurred. Then the therapist would ask what would be different when awakening the following day to sig- nal that a miracle has occurred and the issue that led them here has been resolved. Exceptional issues or questions After viewing a small sample of the miracle question above, the counselor may start to learn what the client wants to achieve and the two of them can start working toward these goals. This is accomplished by emphasizing client-specific exceptions.

8 Therefore, it is important for therapists to identify instances where the issue wasn't as serious which gives clients more confidence to look for answers. Clients also have the chance to specify instances in which things have gone differently for them by using exceptional questions that can help the counselors navigate and help assist the clients. The following are examples of exception questions: The counselor can ask the client to tell them about occasions when they didn’t lose their temper. Another question that can be asked of the client is for them to explain an instance when the client was the happiest. And another good question that the counselor can ask is what are the odds that anything similar to that (the exception) will occur again in the upcoming week (or month) on a scale of 1 to 10, where 10 represents a 100% chance? Counselors should also be more mindful that while seeking exceptions, such questions might be worded to inquire about the client's perspective of both exceptions’ individual inquiries and what is important to others that may observe such as the spouse or family members. Trying to change one item. The originators of solution-focused treatment saw that clients frequently continued to engage in interactional patterns that were producing the reverse of what they wanted. The strategy known as "Do one thing different," in which participants agree to modify what they are doing that isn't working, is also frequently applied when a client feels enmeshed. (Nichols & Davis, 2017)

9 Scaling inquiries Scaling questions encourages issues to view their issues as a sequence. Also, when therapists use the scaling questions, they ask the clients to think about where they stand on a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being the least desirable circumstances and 10 being the most desirable for the client. Scaling questions can be a practical tool to assess incremental change and it is also a good way to measure the client’s progress toward goals. Coping questions and concerns The client's worries are valid and bothersome, yet they haven't prevented them from making it to the therapist’s office and asking for assistance. Thus, the fundamental solution-focused intervention is the use of coping questions. When a client appears overburdened and unable to think of any feasible solutions, these questions can be put to them. It has a straightforward framework. It goes like this: "When {whatever the problem may be) started, how did the client find a solution for/dealing with it" And another example of a question the counselor may present to the client is, "How have they managed to do their work and other tasks every day since the schedule became so hectic and complicated?

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10 Therefore, reframing the client's responses to issues as resources for potential answers, and this scenario above is an example of the coping questions. The counselor must also pay close attention to the client's issues in order for this form of intervention to be successful. Breaks The idea that the therapist might leave mid-session is often frowned upon by the majority of counseling and psychotherapy techniques, however taking a break is a trademark of the solution- focused approach, along with miraculous and scaling inquiries. Before providing the client with useful therapeutic tasks and constructive feedback, the therapist can gather his or her thoughts about what will work best by taking a brief break and returning to the client. In circumstances like group exercises, the therapist may have the advantage of using the time to speak with other professionals about what would be the best to recommend to the client, but in any event, the counselor can contemplate alone, in silence, for a while on this. It has a noticeable impact as well when practicing. Compliments Giving clients compliments helps them feel validated and reinforced for the thoughtful work they are currently doing. Sincere praises have the capacity to empower clients and strengthen the

11 therapeutic alliance. The compliment consists of two parts: the first is expressing amazement at one of the client's accomplishments, and the second is asking the client to explain how it was done. Usually, this happens during the first session and throughout the appointment, as appropriate. Tasks Tasks are what the counselor would like the client to accomplish between sessions to develop toward the chosen goals. In other techniques, tasks are referred to as "homework." Tasks are frequently issued to follow up on a client's response to a miraculous inquiry and are created to be tailored to the client's needs. Talking about solutions Solution-focused therapists carefully select their words with the constant goal of enhancing their clients' sense of hope and optimism, control, and openness to possibilities and change. Of course, solutions rather than issues are the main emphasis. And the counselor can do that by facilitating the solution talk in these sessions.

12 Considering change Positive improvements can frequently be disregarded, underestimated, or discounted when clients are focused on improving the bad aspects or difficulties in their lives. This is because the problem will likely continue to exist. However, counselors are challenged by the solution-focused approach to pay attention to positive changes, no matter how minor, that takes place in their client’s life. Presumptive questions can be useful in helping clients notice such changes. These may include questions that the counselor can ask for instance, "What has changed or gotten better since the meeting?" This question challenges clients to think about the possibilities of transformation. Final session evaluation We create messages for our clients at the conclusion of each conversation that focuses on finding solutions. These messages typically contain compliments and a few suggestions. The praises highlight the helpful things that clients are already doing to address their issues. In this section comments are based on the details that clients have shared with us throughout our discussion about well-formed goals and exceptions.

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13 It always focuses on what the clients should do more of and differently given their frame of reference in order to improve their chances of reaching their objectives. Conclusion This theory would be used for couples and families depending on the circumstances and the situation and this theory can help service families by getting to the point and why they decided to come for therapy to begin with but again it depends on the family dynamics because different variables can cause the theory to change to one that matches that particular circumstance of the clients better. However, this theory would be utilized often when it is necessary and needed for cases that are most beneficial from this technique.

14 References Nichols, M. P., & Davis, S. D. (2017). Family therapy: Concepts and Methods (Eleventh). Pear- son. Kim, J. S., & Franklin, C. (2015). Understanding Emotional Change in Solution-Focused Brief Therapy: Facilitating Positive Emotions. Best Practices in Mental Health , 11 (1). Retrieved March 11, 2023. Seedall, R. B. (2009). Enhancing change process in solution-focused brief therapy by utilizing couple enactments. The American Journal of Family Therapy , 37 (2), 99–113. https://doi.org/10.1080/01926180802132356

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