Solution-Focused Therapy Vs Narrative Therapy

Introduction
The theory that I chose to analyze in this paper is the constructivist approach with a dual use of both the Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT) and Narrative Therapy. In my worldview change happens when an individual is motivated to persist and accomplish their goals. In my own personal philosophy, I am optimistic that every student is capable of discovering a solution that best fits in solving their problem and that everything we do in life is interconnected to helping us accomplish our ideal goals. I plan to work with first generation college students after completing the Educational Counseling program at USC and see the Constructivist approach to best accommodate the needs of first generation college student population. I see every

student as independent actors with their unique stories on life and treat every counseling session as a learning opportunity to understand and assist my students find solutions to their problems. It is because of this that I do not use the same counseling method for every student, but construct every counseling session to fit the problem that the student is facing. Constructivist therapy echoed my personal philosophy in counseling and allowed me the liberty to incorporate different strategies used in other counseling theories to better assist my students.
Constructivist on Human Nature
From my experience working with college students, problems are seen as out of their sphere of control. Healing occurs when students are able to externalize their relationship with their factors that are creating problems for them both in and out of the classroom. In Sharf’s (2015) “Theories of Psychotherapy and Counseling: Concepts and Cases” book, she explains how a constructivist does not focus on the origin of the problem, but centers on the external factors in place that stimulate how the student views and approach their problems (p.457). From an SFT perspective, clients have the resources to solve their own problems and the therapist have a role in bring clients in realizing it in solving their problems (p. 457). From a narrative therapy perspective views people’s lives being consume through narratives that are greatly influence by culture, environment etc. Changing a narrative via different points of view assist the clients to work through their problems (p.466).
The Goal of Counseling
In my opinion the relationship between a client and counselor should be a reciprocal process with genuine feedback and built on trust.

The counseling session should be centered on the client and their understanding of their world and/or problems not heavily weighted on the counselor interpretation of the client’s situation. The role of the counselor is to examine a problem needs changing and discover options in overcoming their problem. Bringing about change can help change the client’s narrative on their problem in the future and/or on life in the process.
What is unique about constructivism is its ability to examine problems from the client’s point of view is that it allows individuals to create their own reality during counseling appointment. According to Pamelia Brott (2004), therapists act more as facilitators of change than therapeutic leaders, the client is viewed as the agent of change (191). The constructivist perspective reality comes into being through the interpretations of what the world means to the client individually (p.192). As Sharf (2015) explains, “…in the act of knowing, it is the human mind that actively gives meaning and order to that reality to which it is responding…" (p.455). Because of this the constructivist perspective does not provide a single theoretical structure as each counseling session is unique in providing client’s a solution that is applicable to

them.
In a brief summary of chapter 12 of the Sharf ‘s (2015) readings, SFT is focused on clear and concrete goals, not problem-solving or past resolving through counseling sessions (p.458). The readings go on to say that during counseling sessions, both client and therapist establish small goals to be met to increase mastery and confidence on future tasks (p.458).
Similarly, narrative therapy’s helps the client “to be prepared for the future and not simply offer a therapeutic bandage for current pain” (p.469). Through narrative therapy clients see their lives (stories) in ways that are more positive rather than problem oriented (p.470). According to Schaft, the therapist does not try to change the past, but helping clients reauthor, or tell their life story in a new way (p.470-471).
Strategies Used in Constructivist Theory
My own process in counseling is to view individuals and their narratives as being unique entities and trying to aid individuals in discovering the best solution to their problems. Through an effective use of constructivist theory with my own personal philosophy of counseling, I will list some of the techniques that stood out from both SFT and Narrative therapy and how each could use interchangeably. Through a narrative therapy the therapist tries to externalize the problem which is a technique that a therapist makes the problem become the opponent and makes it a separate entity, not a characteristic of the individual; counters the assumption that the client is the problem. In my own personal experience, externalizing my obstacles and/or problems that are in the way of the accomplishing my goal allows me discover solutions that best fit my own situation. Sharf (2015) mentions in chapter 12 how a therapist can then deconstruct a problem or story and then reconstruct or reauthor a preferred story (492). After I externalize my problems, my perspective or narrative is changed and I learn how to confront the problem in a future situation. In the “Constructivist Assessment in Career Counseling” article, it stated that for many first generation college students it is difficult to seek out possible solutions for their problems when they have depicted themselves as a villain in their own story (Pamelia, Brott 2004, p.194). After their problem is externalized, providing questions about the future allows for the client to view the change taking place and look into the future at potentially positive new stories. The externalizing the problem technique mirrors the SFT technique of asking the student a “miracle question”, which asks the client to view their life without their problem (p.460). The question allows for the client to lay out goals for change through a positive narrative that allows a student to lay out goals for change.
In the “First-generation African American male college students: Implications for career counselors” article states that “first generation college students experience external pressure from their familial-cultural obligations and internal pressures from their academics it can cause motivation problems with their academics” (p.91). According to Sharf (2015), through the SFT scaling question technique, which helps a client set goals, it allows for both the therapist and client to establish priorities using a one to ten scale and helping to reduce the external and internal pressures first generation college students experience (p.459; 462). A counselor could also introduce what Sharf states as “exception-seeking questions”, which are questions that ask when the problem did not occur, in creating possible solutions to their problems (p.470). This previous technic would allow the client to view their problem from a different perspective an enable them to comfort their problem in finding a possible solution. Throughout the sessions, therapist and client can discuss how well these goals are being met, by asking the client to rate progress on the goals from 0 to 10 and giving homework assignments in the form of helpful exercises.
Applicability Working with Community College
Having my future sights at work with first generation college students, I saw the applicability of constructivist theory in the combine use of solution focused and narrative therapy in servicing such a diverse group of students. Constructivist theory as a whole is applicable to addressing diverse issues surrounding culture, gender, and social context that influence career choices that are unique to a client when compared with others. Through a recent article titled the “Use of Constructivist Approach in Higher Education: An Instructors’ Observation”, focused on the constructivist approach being used in a career counseling setting, which presented an insight into clients' stories. The article provided some of the positive aspects of narrative therapy by express how gaining insight to a client’s story “amplify clients' self-awareness, and develop with clients a future orientation through action steps” (Hussain, 2012). The article showed how students were able to externalize their career-related problems and confront them through each counseling session (Hussain, 2012). Each counseling session Hussain emphasized the importance of the SFT techniques of complementing (i.e. direct, indirect, and self complementing) when introducing the narrative technique of leagues from other students as to create a positive narrative for change (p.179-184). The study also highlighted portions SFT techniques through the use of a “goal map”, which assessed the student’s motivation for change (Hussain, p.182-183, 2012). Through SFT small goals such as academic planning can be met quickly each semester and can be viewed by both the therapist and the client on how well these goals are being met twice an academic year. The client would determine any remaining concerns that would need to be further explored.
Conclusion
In higher education, counselors have a large caseload of students with only 30 minutes to counsel each student.

Because of the large case load and lack of time I see the constructivist theory providing a personalized counseling session that will resolve some of the present tense that the student is experiencing with academic and/or career related stresses. SFT was fascinating to learn and felt that I could use SFT in becoming a successful academic counselor at a community college as in higher education. Students know best which solution best fits their problem but need guidance in discovering what options and/or techniques that will lead them to an ideal solution. A narrative approach’s of getting the student to externalize their problems in a narrative format was a great way of getting clients to overcome pending present problems. These therapeutic approaches encourage me to counsel students to find solutions that will help assist a diverse population in resolving their problems in one or more counseling

sessions.