Solution Focused Therapy Paper

Solution-focused therapy is a relative new therapy and according to Goldenberg & Goldenberg (2013) therapists are more concerned with change, rather than looking at why the family has developed a problem. This is done to discourage families from thinking about why a particular issue occurred according to Goldenberg and Goldenberg (2013). Solution-focused therapist listens to the language used by families as they describe their situation and the conflict resolution they expect to accomplished, according to Goldenberg and Goldenberg, (2013). Solution -focused therapy ask, “How can we work together to help you change your situation?” instead of “problem talk”, Tell me what problems brought you to see me,” according to Goldenberg and Goldenberg

(2013).

Rather than focusing on the why or how a particular party occurred, solution-focused therapy attempts to assist the family in discovering their own solution for becoming “unstuck” (Goldenberg and Goldenberg, 2013). In solution- focused therapy, there are three important questions addressed by Goldenberg and Goldenberg (2013), miracle questions, exception-finding questions, and scaling questions. Miracle occurs overnight while the client is sleeping and all of their problems have been solved when they wake. Exception-finding questions; assist the client in finding exceptions for their problems. Scaling question technique, allows the therapist to access each client’s point of view and realize their own potential. The therapist asks clients, on a scale from one to ten, “How committed is the client to sticking with and expanding their goals”, (Goldenberg & Goldenberg,

2013, pg 381).
Unlike solution-focused therapy, narrative therapist use of concept remind clients that the dominance of one meaning or one set of assumptions is an illusion, and it is possible to apply multitude of meanings or assumptions that will allow the client to understand the same event or experience (Goldenberg & Goldenberg). By performing this task, it allows clients to reexamine so-called truth about themselves-imposed by others or by the culture and internalized as simply given and unchangeable and constructs new narratives (Goldenberg & Goldenberg, 2013). Narrative therapists also attempt to engage families in conversation that discover, acknowledge, and support the deconstruction of the cultural beliefs and practices that help perpetuate the story (Goldenberg & Goldenberg, 2013). With narrative therapy people try to make sense of their lives, by arranging their experiences of events over time to arrive at a clear thinking account of themselves and their surroundings (Goldenberg & Goldenberg, 2013). Families engage in conversation that discovers acknowledge, and support the deconstruction of the cultural beliefs and practices that help perpetuate the problem story (Goldenberg & Goldenberg, 2013). When working with clients, narrative therapists have to be extremely sensitive of who might find the absence of grounding reality or authorizing tests a significant cause of anxiety (pg. 399)
One key difference between the two types of therapist is; solution-focused therapists are concerned with change and assisting the family in finding their own solution to the problem whereas narrative therapists work together with the client in order to find a solution. Another difference between the two is; solution -focused therapy focus on the future of the client whereas narrative therapy focus is geared towards the past. Narrative therapy talks with clients about what has happened in their lives, how it happened, what it means, and encourage them to consider more positive options for their life (Goldenberg & Goldenberg, 2013).
Although solution-focused therapists and narrative therapists’ have different approaches both types of therapy are successful and can benefit different people. The ultimate goal is to provide the best form of care for the client.