Solution focussed therapy

A stranger asks for directions to the local train station. The person he asks thinks for a while, frowns, and says "If I were you, I wouldn't start from here." It is easy to get to a destination if we are almost there, but in life we can sometimes find ourselves in difficult situations and like the stranger, simply not know how to get where we want to be.

But does focusing on where we are now, get us any nearer to our goal?

Solution focused therapy in its purest form would suggest not. This style of therapy can be engaged in an almost content free form, where the therapist elicits the goal or 'desired state' from the client then helps them focus on the practicalities of getting there. With reference to the NLP precept that we already possess the necessary tools to get to wherever we want, it is then a case of helping the client to discover those tools and use them.

There are some potential pitfalls with this approach though. One of which is that the client may feel that the therapist simply isn't listening to them; or that they lack empathy or understanding of their situation.

Room needs to be made for the client to tell their story and have it acknowledged by the therapist. Listening, really and actively listening, is a powerful tool at the therapists disposal. Listening to how the story is told, what the client sees as the salient features and even the language they use to describe it, all give us vital information.

The therapist needs to be alert though to not letting the client wallow in their current situation; getting stuck like the needle on a scratched vinyl record. In both cases a gentle nudge is required, and as with most things in life, timing is the key.

The really good thing about a solution focus though, is that it invites the client to think about what they really want and where they want to be, rather than 'anywhere but here'.

To sum up; if you have a clear idea about where you want to be, you are more likely to get there.

For more information on our courses visit http://www.talkingcurestraining.co.uk