Solution Focused Therapy

As it’s name implies, solution focused therapy looks for the solution instead of dwelling on the problem. Though results can be achieved relatively quickly, it is not to be confused with simply patching over the symptoms as this type of therapy has proved more effective than many types of problem-centered therapies. 

 

Two simple ideas lie at the bottom of solution focus.

 

The first consists of identifying what someone might already be doing which would contribute to the resolution of their problem. The therapist’s task is to help them identify this.

 

The second idea is simply that knowing where you want to get to makes it easier to get there. Too often we allow our problems to cloud our view of the future. We may know what we don’t want but find it more difficult to understand what we actually want. A solution focused therapist will ask questions from a future perspective, as though the problem were already solved. This helps create a roadmap to the desired outcome.

 

Why is the solution-focused mind more helpful than the problem-focused mind?

 

When we feel threatened we get into the freeze, fight or flight response: a crucial mechanism which has allowed us to survive emergency situations. However, when in fight or flight mode the following changes occur in the brain:

 

• Left brain capacity (including language processing) is greatly diminished as we are on our guard for any dangers.

 

• The right brain moves towards emotional pattern matching, useful for accelerated learning to protect us from danger but also increasing anxiety and preventing us from seeing the bigger picture.

 

The problem-focused subconscious mind references back to emotional matches in the past. In this mode we are recycling a program and are not innovative thinkers – for innovative thinking we need to be in solution focused mode.

When we are relaxed and in Focused Solution Mode:

 

• The intellectual left brain is in control which allows us to reason and encourages positive intention. Language skills and logical thought are enhanced.

 

• The right brain’s creativity can be fully expressed and used for problem solving. Anxiety is reduced giving rise to all the health benefits associated with lower stress levels.

There has been much research showing Solution Focused Therapy to be effective in 65-83% of cases in an average of 4-5 sessions. (See Research)