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The Solution Focused Approach is so different from problem focused ways of working that it is sometimes hard to understand. In a recent lecture a discussion took place that may simplify the differences a bit. That’s what this video is about and I hope it helps make it clear.

On a recent trip teaching it. So I’ve spent most of this year on the road teaching already. And on one of my recent trips somebody asked me, uh, what was it, how was solution focused, brief therapy, different from, uh, the approaches, the problem focused approaches and uh, got me to thinking, we got into a discussion, uh, me and the group got into a discussion about exactly what it is that makes solution focused brief therapy different from all of the other approaches. Now of course, this is not the first time we would ask that question. In fact, that’s one of the most common questions that I get asked. I got asked. But as a result of the conversation and the discussion that I had with the group, I realized something that, uh, and I think it was kind of discussed and explained, uh, with this particular group differently than it had been discussed with groups previously.

And I think solution focused brief therapy is different from the immediate assumption of why the client is in the room for the therapist. So, for example, even though it might’ve might’ve been a problem that triggered the clients who come into your office, our assumption is the client is in your office because they want something. And as a result of having that different assumption, assuming that the client is in your office because they want something versus assuming that the client is in your office because of a problem, it sends your conversation in a very different direction. So for example, let me give you an example. I have nothing to do with therapeutic kind of make this point. So if I, um, if I break my leg, fall down, you don’t have a, have a skiing accident or biking accident or whatever, and I break my leg, do I go to the doctor because I have a broken leg or do I go to the doctor because I have hope to be able to effectively walk again in the future.

Like, do you see the difference? Uh, I would rather see a doctor who’s going to treat my ability to walk effectively again in the future versus a doctor that’s just, uh, treating my broken leg and in solution focused brief therapy, we talked to the version of the client that hopes to be able to walk effectively again in the future. And I think that’s the most fundamental difference. And uh, it immediately sets this apart, this approach apart, uh, from other problem focused approaches and opens up more possibilities and opens up more avenues for change and opens up more opportunities to have conversations, uh, about success. Because if I go see a doctor who’s going to talk to me about, uh, developing my ability to walk effectively again in the future, then actually what gets solved is more than just my broken leg because that’s going to in some encompass holistically all of the things that are going to get me going towards walking effectively.

And that is the hope where solution focused conversation that we want to do much more than just solve the problem. We want to transform the situation to movements towards the client’s success. It’s not just about casting and fixing the broken leg and sending you off client on their way. It’s about, um, a much more deep and profound change where, uh, where everything is moving towards effectively learning to walk and be successful again. And uh, I think, I know that’s like a basic explanation, but I did want to make this video to make clear that solution focused brief therapy is different from the moment the client comes into the office. Uh, because we are talking to the version of the client that is hope for walking again and not just the problem, not just solving a problem, not just every cause a problem. They’re there with hope for something different. So I hope you liked this video. Please like it and share it and never forget your just one question away from making a difference in someone’s life.