Solution-focused (also sometimes referred to as solution oriented) therapy is a kind of brief therapy that is goal directed in its approach.
Solution-focused vs. problem-focused therapy
Solution-focused therapy and coaching
- focuses on solutions and a positive future
- based on the assumption that if the patient has the resources to create the problem, he or she also has the resources to solve it (the patient is the expert)
- small changes lead to larger ones
- not necessary to have an understanding of the history of the presenting problem to make positive change
- also focusing on those instances where the patient’s problem is absent or minimal (exceptions suggest solutions)
Problem-focused therapy and coaching
- centers on reducing the problem
- focuses on what patients don’t want
- interested in why the problem happens
- looks at what clients are doing wrong
- seeks to eliminate clients’ weaknesses
Scientific evidence for a solution-focused approach
Scientific research revealed that solution-focused questioning in therapy and coaching produced a significantly greater increase in
- self-efficacy
- goal approach
- action steps
- positive emotions
and a significantly greater decrease in
- negative emotions
than problem-focused questions.
Literature:
MacDonald A. J. (2011) Solution-focused Therapy. Theory, Research & Practice 2nd ed. Sage
Neipp, M. C., Beyebach, M., Nuñez, R. M., & Martínez‐González, M. C. (2016). The Effect of Solution‐Focused Versus Problem‐Focused Questions: A Replication. Journal of marital and family therapy, 42(3), 525-535