Main description:

An invaluable guide to the history, descriptions of practice strategies, and applications of SFBT! The Handbook of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy is a unique, comprehensive guide that assists clinicians, regardless of experience level, in learning and applying the concepts of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) to particular situations with clients. Noted experts discuss the therapy practices and various uses for the approach in detail, which focuses on encouraging clients to look at exceptions, times when the problem could have occurred and did not, and goals and future possibilities. A history of the practice model and its interventions is discussed, along with limitations, descriptions of practice strategies, applications to specific client populations, and clinical problems and concerns. This useful resource also includes an illustrative case study that uses the SFBT model. The Handbook of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy first lays a foundation of knowledge, providing chapters on the crucial assumptions and practices, history, and epistemology behind the approach. Further chapters use that basis to explain the application of the approach with several clinical issues and various populations, including couples, depression, domestic violence, schools, children, pastoral work, therapist burnout, and a few outside therapy room applications. Other chapters focus on the important issues in therapist training and supervision. Extensive references are provided at the end of each chapter. Topics discussed in the Handbook of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy include:

assumptions within the SFBT tradition
history of the SFBT approach
epistemology
SFBT with couples
depression
domestic violence offenders
public schools
children and young people
SFBT in faith-based communities
assessing and relieving burnout in mental health practice
SFBT beyond the therapy room
supervision of training
possible limitations, misunderstandings, and misuses of SFBT
a tribute to the late Steven de Shazer, co-founder of the SFBT approach

The Handbook of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy is an invaluable reference for all types of therapists, including psychologists, counselors, social workers, and family therapists at any level of experience, including students, trainees, and experienced therapists.

Contents:

About the Editors
Contributors
Foreword (Yvonne Dolan)
Introduction
Acknowledgments
SECTION I: FOUNDATIONS
Chapter 1. Assumptions and Practices Within the Solution-Focused Brief Therapy Tradition (Frank N. Thomas and Thorana S. Nelson)
Introduction
The Interactional View
Clinical Thinking: Taking a Solution-Focused Posture
Basic Assumptions
Practices
Conclusion
Chapter 2. Springs, Streams, and Tributaries: A History of the Brief, Solution-Focused Approach (Brian Cade)
Introduction
Milton H. Erickson
Communication in Therapy
Strategists and Tacticians
The Brief Therapy Center, Palo Alto
Brief Family therapy Center, Milwaukee
Keys to Solution: The Wizard of Oz Technique
Who Wants What?
Language and Figure/Ground
Applications and Outcome Studies
Concluding Thoughts
Dedication
Chapter 3. Miraculous Knowing: Epistemology and Solution-Focused Therapy (Duane R. Bidwell)
Introduction
Thinking About Knowing: A Historical Summary
A Postmodern Turn in Psychology: Social Constructionist Theories
Shifting the Epistemological Focus in Family Therapy
The Character of Solution-Focused Knowing
Miracles of Being
Conclusion: Pointing Toward the Future
SECTION II: APPLICATIONS
Chapter 4. Solution-Focused Therapy with Couples (Phillip Ziegler and Tobey Hiller)
History and Ideas of Our Approach
Case Examples
Chapter 5. Looking Beyond Depression (Teri Pichot)
Introduction
Miracle Question
Scaling
Exception Questions
Relationship Questions
Difference Questions
Compliments
Case Example
Conclusion
Chapter 6. Solution-Focused Treatment with Domestic Violence Offenders (Mo Yee Lee, John Sebold, and Adriana Uken)
Introduction
The Big Picture from a Researcher's Perspective
A New Beginning
Theoretical Explanations of a Solution-focused Approach
Shifting to a Solution-Focused Approach
Working with Other Systems
Evaluation of the Treatment Program
Conclusion
Chapter 7. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy in Public School Settings (Cynthia Franklin and Beth Gerlach)
Introduction
Evidence Base for SFBT in Schools
Advantages of Using SFBT in Public Schools
Introducing SFBT in Public Schools
Successfully Working on School Campuses
Building Collaborative Relationships
Working with Students
Working with Students and Parents
Working with Administrators
Working with Teachers
Working with Other mental Health Professionals in Schools
Conclusion
Chapter 8. Solution-Focused Work with Children and Young People (Paul Hackett and Guy Shennan)
Introduction
SFBT for Which Children?
Case Example
Cautionary Notes
Chapter 9. Tips and Tricks for Working with Children (Sabine Tolksdorf and Mark Mitchell)
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy in a German Classroom
Solution-focused Brief Therapy with Children
Chapter 10. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy in Faith-Based Communities (Dan Gallagher)
Introduction
Finding Out What the Person Wants
Grief: The Life of the Party
Spiritual Issues
God's Job
To Divorce or Not to Divorce: Is That the Question?
On the Fly: A Hospital Visit
Working with Groups
Conclusion
Chapter 11. This Job Is So Demanding. Using Solution-Focused Questions to Assess and Relieve Burnout (Yvonne Dolan and Thorana Nelson)
Introduction
Amy
Conclusion
Chapter 12. Applying Solution-Focused Brief Therapy in Mental Health Practice (Alasdair J. Macdonald)
Introduction to the Medical Model
Influence of History and Culture
Major Mental Disorders
Urgent Assessment
Scheduled Assessments
Management of the Acutely Disturbe