Elliott Connie
Founder/PresidentElliott Connie, MA, LPC is a Psychotherapist that practices in Arlington, Texas. He has worked with thousands of individuals, couples, and families applying the solution...
There are some common misunderstandings surrounding Solution Focused Brief Therapy that I think prevents clinicians from using it to its full potential. I wanted to take a moment to reflect on that during my birthday weekend!
If you’re watching this video, then I assume on some level you’re interested in Solution Focused Brief Therapy. And I’ve been sitting here today reflecting on “What is it about Solution Focused Brief Therapy that has drawn me to this way of working, and had me doing this way of working for nearly 20 years?” Maybe it’s because today is my birthday. Today, as I’m recording this video, is my birthday. I’m 49 years old today. Or maybe, something in the universe has me super reflective. I don’t know. But I’m sitting here thinking about, “What is it about this approach, and why do I keep doing it?”
You know, one of the things that has that on my mind is I’ve been to some large conferences speaking recently, and some of the things that I noticed 20 years ago are still present. Like, people in our field misunderstanding this approach, thinking that you, you can’t use it unless you combine it with other approaches, or it’s only good for goal setting, or it doesn’t work with clients who have real problems.
What I think I fell in love with originally about Solution Focused Brief Therapy is that it brings hope to the hopeless. It brings situations that are in the dark, it brings light into those situations. I actually think this is the best approach to use when you’re working with a client with a really serious mental health issue, because there’s no such thing as an insurmountable problem.
As I talk to more and more people, I realize that people view problems as roadblocks, something that you can’t overcome. And if you take that stance, then I think Solution Focused Brief Therapy will be very challenging for you because this is a very optimistic approach.
I don’t mean optimistic in like, “Yeah, you can get through anything.”, but I mean the really resolute, steadfast belief that anything can be changed. If you don’t believe anything can’t be changed, then this approach is going to be very challenging for you.
This approach is far more than a collection of techniques, which is how we study most other approaches. It’s a stance, it’s a way of looking at clients, It’s a way of looking at scenarios and understanding any scenario that my client faces can be changed and overcome.
That’s really the heart of Solution Focused Brief Therapy. And that’s what drew me to it. And that’s why I do it all of these years later. It’s not because I think I’m cool doing Solution Focused Brief Therapy. In fact, doing Solution Focused Brief Therapy has made my life and my work far more complicated than it otherwise would have been. If I had done any other approach, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be viewed as the rebel that I am in some circles in our field.
I do it because it’s beautiful, and I do it because of the way it makes people feel. I do it because I became a psychotherapist, not just to help people solve problems, but to help people become the very best version of themselves.
So when you are thinking about how you do Solution Focused Brief Therapy, I want you to understand that you’ve gotta buy into the stance, or else you’re never gonna be able to work with the approach.
Elliott Connie, MA, LPC is a Psychotherapist that practices in Arlington, Texas. He has worked with thousands of individuals, couples, and families applying the solution focused approach to help them move their lives from the current problems towards their desired futures. As well as being the Founder and President of The Solution Focused Universe, he is recognized around the world speaking at national and international conferences and events throughout the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, South Africa, Russia, Switzerland, England, Poland, Sweden, Denmark, Scotland, Holland, Canada, and Asia training practitioners to apply solution focused questions and techniques in their work. He has authored or co-authored 4 books including “The Art of Solution Focused Therapy”, ‘Solution Building in Couples Therapy”, ‘The Solution Focused Marriage’, and ‘Solution-Focused Brief Therapy with Clients Managing Trauma’.
