SOLUTION-FOCUSED PRINCIPLES
&
THEIR APPLICATION TO CLINICAL TREATMENT
Jim Andrews, Ph.D, Speech-Language Pathologist
Mary Andrews, M.S., Couple & Family Therapist
As we understand our clients’ and family members’ realities and frame our treatment procedures and suggestions to fit those realities, the clinician-client relationship becomes increasingly stronger, our suggestions are taken more seriously, and a partnership is established that leads to positive speech-language change.
The Walter & Peller baseball story is an example of shifting our attention from weaknesses and deficits to resources and strengths. Naturally, we have to learn about our clients’ deficits, but as quickly as possible we move toward solutions and change. As we include families in assessment and treatment we attempt to uncover their strengths and focus on their resources. This principle can be applied to clients’ speech-language characteristics, clients’ behaviors and attitudes, family members’ efforts to help, etc.
When we use a solution-focused approach we do NOT deny problems or attempt to talk family members out of their concerns or worries. It remains important to listen to and acknowledge them. Clients and families can appreciate solutions only after they know that the clinician has heard their concerns and responded to these.
While our founders looked for exceptions (e.g., key words, stimulability) and many clinicians attempt to build on these, having the concept in mind and an easily remembered phrase (“search for exceptions to the problem”) calls the importance of this search to our attention. It is one of the important techniques of solution-focused treatment.
Bibliography
Walter, J. & Peller, J. (1992). Becoming solution-focused in brief therapy.
New York: Brunner/Mazel.
Additional Reading
Andrews, J. & Andrews, M. (1995). Solution-focused assumptions that support family-centered intervention. Infants & Young Children, 8, 60-67.
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