Solution-oriented short therapy

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The solution-oriented short- term therapy , also solution-focused short-term therapy , (English. Solution Focused Brief Therapy ) is a special type of talk therapy , which was first introduced in 1982 by the psychotherapists Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg . It starts from the point of view that it is more helpful to focus on desires, goals, resources, exceptions to the problem rather than on problems and their origins. This therapeutic approach has also spread in other areas such as coaching , pedagogy , management and pastoral care in recent years . In particular, it is spreading in Switzerland and parts of Germany in social work and social education , as well as in psychiatry .

Basic principles

Solution focus means recognizing and reinforcing the "positive differences". In other words, that which already works and fits better now and of which it is desired that it may be so to an even greater extent in the future.

This approach was developed by Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg at the Brief Family Therapy Center (BFTC) in Milwaukee / Wisconsin, founded in 1978, together with Elam Nunnally, Eve Lipchik , Michele Weiner-Davis, Alex Molnar and Wallace Gingerich.

This approach was inspired by Ludwig Wittgenstein's language games , from hypnotherapy according to Milton H. Erickson , as well as from constructivism and the Palo Alto group .

This form of therapy is supported by current research results in brain research , in particular the concept of neuroplasticity : This means that the brain constantly changes its structure and its related function, adapting to the experience it has made. Learning consists in strengthening synaptic connections between neurons.

The central and radically "new" aspect of the "solution-focused approach" is the commitment to "simplicity": In order to be successful in complex situations and systems, it is not always helpful to want to model and understand them - it is more helpful it is often to observe with an open mind what is working as intended in order to do more of it in small steps.

Several meta-studies are now available on the effectiveness of the solution-focused short-term concept:

According to Johnny S. Kim, it has so far only been confirmed for internalizing disorders, although these are small effects.

Wallace J. Gingerich and Lance T. Peterson, on the other hand, conclude that the available studies provide strong evidence that solution-focused therapy is an effective treatment for a wide variety of behavioral and psychological problems, while also being shorter and therefore less expensive as alternative approaches.

Solution focus claims:

  1. positive changes in complex situations happen in small steps;
  2. little information is sufficient for choosing the next steps;
  3. "What is the difference between better / worse?" decides and not "how is it - how did it come about?";
  4. the concrete action in small steps displaces the "theoretically comprehensive understanding";
  5. Assumption: Everyone involved is interested in positive changes.

The three basic principles of solution focus

  1. "Don't fix what isn't broken!"
  2. "Find out what works and fits well - and do more of it!"
  3. "If, despite a lot of effort, something does not work well enough and fits - then stop and try something else!"

The six mnemonics on solution-focused "simplicity"

  1. Solutions instead of problems : "Don't deepen your understanding of the problem, but explore what it's like when it's better".
  2. Interaction instead of isolated individuality : "Our behavior develops in the interaction with others. In solution-focused work, opinions, beliefs or values ​​are not discussed, but observable actions".
  3. Pay attention to and use what is there - not what is missing : "Do not determine the gap between 'actual' and 'should', but what - even if only rarely - is already a little better today".
  4. Seeing the opportunities in yesterday, today and tomorrow : "Thinking about opportunities in the future and in today is a familiar thought. It is rather unusual to consciously explore in the 'yesterday' what was already an opportunity earlier - to to use that too ".
  5. Simple language : "Use simple everyday words instead of long, complicated, abstract and impressive-sounding words".
  6. See every situation as special - do not impose a poorly fitting general theory on it : "Open and curious, allow yourself to be positively surprised every time".

Further information

The central requirement of any consultation is the expectation that something can change and improve. Solution-focused counseling believes that change processes are inevitable and happen all the time.

The method differs from other approaches in that the consultant is convinced that even a small change in the behavior of a single person can result in significant and far-reaching changes in all other participants. It focuses on the exceptions to a problem, those moments when small changes occur in the stability of a problem state. Developing an existing change, however small it may be, is seen as more important than thinking about how to correct or change wrong behavior.

Research into the spontaneous or arbitrary minimal occurrence of the desired target state is the focus of the interventions . Solution-focused advice means: The focus is on the solution. The procedure is characterized by the effort to make personal and social abilities of a person clear and to construct solutions together, i. That is , to find alternatives to dysfunctional patterns of thought, feeling, and action. The practice model stands out due to its consistent target and resource orientation. Resource orientation means a basic attitude that is not based on deficits, but on people's strengths and skills.

The goal of solution-focused work is to develop perspectives together with the client, which encourage them to take steps they have found themselves in the direction of their desired goals. Solution-focused communication (LFK) largely dispenses with diagnoses that are based on deficits of an individual, i.e. that is, it is not causally oriented at the moment.

The solution-focused model is one of the short-term therapies that received increasing attention in the late 1960s and early 1970s. In a short therapy, the presented problems, conflicts, disturbances etc. are not explored in depth, but the skills and resources available to the client are brought into focus and all possibilities of their active use are exhausted in order to achieve a problem solution as directly as possible. Short therapy can also be short because it is based on the assumption that within the consultation time only suggestions and impulses for the actual development and change processes are given, which must be implemented or carried out in the client's everyday life . According to de Shazer, brevity is not an intended goal, but a logical consequence of solution-focused intervention. Brief therapy does not mean, however , that the counselor should act quickly, but that he or she orientates himself towards the individual client.

The average number of sessions is between four and seven. The time intervals between the meetings are negotiated and can be a few days or several months.

Definition of 'solution-focused' versus 'solution-oriented'

The content of the process can be separated from various solution-oriented processes. According to Peter Kaimer , the main difference lies on the one hand “… in the radical nature of the therapists' active discussion of the problems presented. While solution-oriented therapy tends to follow a 'soft' line here and is quite ready to deepen the understanding of the problem, solution-focused therapy largely dispenses with this. On the other hand, solution-oriented therapists rely far more on specific and proven therapeutic techniques for problem solving, which are traditionally described in the various therapy schools. In contrast to such a more 'expert-oriented' approach, the solution-focused approach is more closely linked to the specifics and resources of the client and at the same time devotes significantly less attention to the problems presented. "

"Solution orientation" describes the inner, solution-oriented attitude of an expert. “ Focusing ” also refers to the concrete intervention strategy of the LFK therapy model. Solution-oriented is first and foremost an orientation, an alignment, a preferred focus, a consciously chosen perspective. Solution orientation does not exclude the existence of problems, “but refers to the old knowledge that a problem can only become a problem if it is linked to the idea of ​​a solution. Without an idea of ​​a solution there would be no problem, because there is no idea of ​​a solution. Accordingly, solution-oriented always means the 'solution' of ideas that have become dear to you, how to solve the problems of others. "

The clients are the experts because when they come to the consultation with a problem, they always bring an idea of ​​their solution with them. The individual ideas should be respected and pursued in cooperation with the clients in order to facilitate and enable them to use their solution ideas.

literature

  • Insoo Kim Berg: Families - Cohesion (s). A brief therapeutic and solution-oriented workbook . 6th edition, Modern Learning Publishing House, Dortmund 1999.
  • Insoo Kim Berg u. Scott D. Miller: Short term therapy for alcohol problems. A solution-oriented approach . Auer, Heidelberg 1993.
  • Insoo Kim Berg u. Norman H. Reuss: Solutions - Step by Step. Drug Abuse Treatment Guide . Modern learning publishing house, Dortmund 1999.
  • Insoo Kim Berg u. Peter de Jong: Finding solutions. The workshop book of solution-oriented short therapy . 5th edition, Modern Learning Publishing House, Dortmund 2003.
  • Steve de Shazer: The game with differences. How to solve therapeutic solutions . Auer, Heidelberg 2004.
  • Steve de Shazer: The shoot. Surprising twists and turns in short-term therapy . 7th edition, Auer, Heidelberg 2002.
  • Steve de Shazer: Words were originally magic. From problem language to solution language. From the American by Andreas Schindler. Auer, Heidelberg 2009 ISBN 978-3-89670-689-8
  • Steve de Shazer: Ways to Successful Short Therapy . 2nd edition, Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart 1990.
  • Timm H. Lohse: The short talk in pastoral care and counseling. A methodical guide. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht; 3. Edition. Göttingen 2005 ISBN 978-3-525-62384-8

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ "Following Wittgenstein, we can only know what a word means by how the participants in the conversation use it." (De Shazer [1991]: Putting difference to work , p. 69.)
  2. ↑ Diane Gehart: Mastering Competencies in Family Therapy. A Practical Approach to Theories and Clinical Case Documentation , Belmont 2014, p. 334.
  3. ^ Daniel Mentha, 2007: Solution Orientation & Neuroplasticity. What does modern brain research say about solution-oriented therapy and counseling concepts? (PDF).
  4. ↑ Joseph LeDoux: The Net of Emotions , dtv, Munich 2001, p. 229
  5. ^ Johnny S. Kim: Examining the Effectiveness of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy: A Meta-Analysis. Research on Social Work Practice March 2008 vol. 18 no.2 107-116
  6. ^ Wallace J. Gingerich, Lance T. Peterson: Effectiveness of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy. A Systematic Qualitative Review of Controlled Outcome Studies. Research on Social Work Practice May 2013 vol. 23 no.3 266-283
  7. ↑ Based on: McKergow / Clarke: Solutions Focus Working , Solutions Books 2007, Chapter 1
  8. ^ Peter Kaimer: Solution-focused therapy. Psychotherapy Forum Vol. 7, No. 1, 1999, pp. 8-20, accessed October 12, 2019 .