Doing What Works in Brief Therapy (eBook)

Front Cover 1
Doing What Works in Brief Therapy: A Strategic Solution Focused Approach 4
Copyright Page 5
Contents 8
Preface 14
Chapter 1. The Model and Its Origins 18
The Model 19
Brief Strategic Therapy: The MRI Approach 20
Soluition Focused Therapy: The BFTC Approach 23
Combining Models 25
The Strategic Solution Focused Model 27
Chapter 2. Clarifying the Problem: What's the Trouble? 32
Prioritizing Problems 33
"Who, What, When, and Where?" 34
In What Way is This a Problem? 36
To Whom is This a Problem? 37
Translating Vague Constructs to Clear Complaints 39
When the Problem is the Past 40
A Different Problem Every Time 41
Problem Clarification as Intervention 42
Celeste: "My Mother was Very Sick Mentally" 43
Chapter 3. Amplifying the Solution: Variations on the Miracle Question 50
The Miracle Question 51
David: "I Wouldn't Hate Going to Work" 54
Identifying and Amplifying Exceptions 60
Scaling Questions 62
Variations on the Miracle Question 64
Miracle Questioning as Problem Clarification 66
Miracle Questioning as Intervention 68
Chapter 4. Evaluating Attempted Solutions: If It Doesn't Work, Do Something Different 72
Eliciting Attempted Solutions 73
Interrupting Unsuccessful Attempted Solutions 76
Change Slowly 79
Depression: When "Cheer Up" Doesn't Work 79
Anxiety: When "Don't Worry" Doesn't Work 81
Interrupting Unsuccessful Attempted Solutions in Relationships 83
Parents and Children: Reversing What Doesn't Work 87
Attempted Solutions to Eating Problems 88
Sexual Solutions: Interrupting "Forced Arousal" 89
Recognizing Individualized Attempted Solutions 90
Chapter 5. Designing the Intervention: Validation, Compliment, and Suggestion 92
The Three-Part Intervention 93
Validating 95
Complimenting 97
Designing Suggestions for Customers, Complainants, and Visitors 99
Presenting the Suggestion: Using the Client's "Position" 101
Suggestions, Specific and "Generic" 103
Chapter 6. Therapist Decisions: Clarifying, Amplifying, or Interrupting 110
General Guidelines 111
When Problem Clarification Doesn't Clarify 115
When Solution Amplification Doesn't Create Solutions 118
When Doing Something Different Doesn't Help 122
Shifting Stances as Therapy Progresses 126
Chapter 7. Couples: Problems and Solutions 130
Starting with the Couple Together 130
Clarifying the Problem(s) 131
Elaborating the Solution(s) 133
Three-Part Interventions For Couples 134
Jill and Nick: "Communication is a Problem" 136
Follow-Up: Together or Separately? 138
Therapist Concerns 144
Starting with One Person 146
Chapter 8. Coping with Difficult Situations 150
Clarifying and “Deconstructing” Difficult Problems and Unattainable Goals 151
Coping Questions 152
Amplifying the Coping Response 154
Interrupting Unsuccessful Coping Solutions 156
Coping with Indecision 159
Using Therapist Impotence: "I Can't Make It All Go Away" 161
Chapter 9. Medication and the Model 164
When the Client Wants Medicine 165
When the Client Does Not Want Medicine 167
Medication as an Option 170
“When It Doesn't Work, Do Something Different” and Medicine 172
When the Client is Already Taking Medicine 176
Chapter 10. Brief Therapy: Problems and Solutions in Managed Care 180
Cost Containment Issues 180
A Model That "Works" in Managed Care 182
Intermittent Care: "The Family Practice Model" 183
How Many Sessions? "Not One More Than Necessary" 185
Spacing Sessions 186
Follow-Up Sessions 187
"Termination" in Intermittent Care 189
Practical Considerations 190
Single-Session Therapy 192
Caveats in Brief Therapy and Managed Care 194
Extensions for the Future? 196
Chapter 11. Case Examples: Intermittent Care 198
Harriet: "I Guess I Come When I Need You" 198
Kevin: A Week Away from Work 199
Gail: "Rage Attacks Forever" 201
Jeffrey and Claudia: Sex Drive Differences 204
Chaptere 12. Excerpts: Single-Session Therapy 208
Mary's Miracle 208
Liz: "I Blow Up at Him" 217
Chapter 13. Excerpts: Brief Therapy 226
Megan: "Problems with My Father" 226
Jack: Trichotillomania 233
Gloria: The Inconsistent Overeater 240
References 250
Index 256