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Handbook of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy

Clinical Applications

• Edited by Thorana S. Nelson, Frank N. Thomas

• Price: $59.95
• Binding: Paperback (also available in Hardback)
• Pages: 458
• Published by: Routledge
• Publication Date: 2nd October 2007
• ISBN: 978-0-7890-2395-7

About the Book

An invaluable guide to the history, descriptions of practice strategies, and applications of SFBT!

The Handbook of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy is a unique, comprehensive guide that assists clinicians, regardless of experience level, in learning and applying the concepts of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) to particular situations with clients. Noted experts discuss the therapy practices and various uses for the approach in detail, which focuses on encouraging clients to look at exceptions, times when the problem could have occurred and did not, and goals and future possibilities. A history of the practice model and its interventions is discussed, along with limitations, descriptions of practice strategies, applications to specific client populations, and clinical problems and concerns. This useful resource also includes an illustrative case study that uses the SFBT model.

The Handbook of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy first lays a foundation of knowledge, providing chapters on the crucial assumptions and practices, history, and epistemology behind the approach. Further chapters use that basis to explain the application of the approach with several clinical issues and various populations, including couples, depression, domestic violence, schools, children, pastoral work, therapist burnout, and a few “outside therapy room” applications. Other chapters focus on the important issues in therapist training and supervision. Extensive references are provided at the end of each chapter.

Topics discussed in the Handbook of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy include:

• assumptions within the SFBT tradition
• history of the SFBT approach
• epistemology
• SFBT with couples
• depression
• domestic violence offenders
• public schools
• children and young people
• SFBT in faith-based communities
• assessing and relieving burnout in mental health practice
• SFBT beyond the therapy room
• supervision of training
• possible limitations, misunderstandings, and misuses of SFBT
• a tribute to the late Steven de Shazer, co-founder of the SFBT approach

The Handbook of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy is an invaluable reference for all types of therapists, including psychologists, counselors, social workers, and family therapists at any level of experience, including students, trainees, and experienced therapists.

Table of Contents

• About the Editors
• Contributors
• Foreword (Yvonne Dolan)
• Introduction
• Acknowledgments
• SECTION I: FOUNDATIONS
• Chapter 1. Assumptions and Practices Within the Solution-Focused Brief Therapy Tradition (Frank N. Thomas and Thorana S. Nelson)
• Introduction
• The “Interactional View”
• Clinical Thinking: Taking a Solution-Focused Posture
• Basic Assumptions
• Practices
• Conclusion
• Chapter 2. Springs, Streams, and Tributaries: A History of the Brief, Solution-Focused Approach (Brian Cade)
• Introduction
• Milton H. Erickson
• Communication in Therapy
• Strategists and Tacticians
• The Brief Therapy Center, Palo Alto
• Brief Family therapy Center, Milwaukee
• Keys to Solution: The Wizard of Oz Technique
• Who Wants What?
• Language and Figure/Ground
• Applications and Outcome Studies
• Concluding Thoughts
• Dedication
• Chapter 3. Miraculous Knowing: Epistemology and Solution-Focused Therapy (Duane R. Bidwell)
• Introduction
• Thinking About Knowing: A Historical Summary
• A Postmodern Turn in Psychology: Social Constructionist Theories
• Shifting the Epistemological Focus in Family Therapy
• The Character of Solution-Focused Knowing
• Miracles of Being
• Conclusion: Pointing Toward the Future
• SECTION II: APPLICATIONS
• Chapter 4. Solution-Focused Therapy with Couples (Phillip Ziegler and Tobey Hiller)
• History and Ideas of Our Approach
• Case Examples
• Chapter 5. Looking Beyond Depression (Teri Pichot)
• Introduction
• Miracle Question
• Scaling
• Exception Questions
• Relationship Questions
• Difference Questions
• Compliments
• Case Example
• Conclusion
• Chapter 6. Solution-Focused Treatment with Domestic Violence Offenders (Mo Yee Lee, John Sebold, and Adriana Uken)
• Introduction
• The Big Picture from a Researcher’s Perspective
• A New Beginning
• Theoretical Explanations of a Solution-focused Approach
• Shifting to a Solution-Focused Approach
• Working with Other Systems
• Evaluation of the Treatment Program
• Conclusion
• Chapter 7. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy in Public School Settings (Cynthia Franklin and Beth Gerlach)
• Introduction
• Evidence Base for SFBT in Schools
• Advantages of Using SFBT in Public Schools
• Introducing SFBT in Public Schools
• Successfully Working on School Campuses
• Building Collaborative Relationships
• Working with Students
• Working with Students and Parents
• Working with Administrators
• Working with Teachers
• Working with Other mental Health Professionals in Schools
• Conclusion
• Chapter 8. Solution-Focused Work with Children and Young People (Paul Hackett and Guy Shennan)
• Introduction
• SFBT for Which Children?
• Case Example
• Cautionary Notes
• Chapter 9. Tips and Tricks for Working with Children (Sabine Tolksdorf and Mark Mitchell)
• Solution-Focused Brief Therapy in a German Classroom
• Solution-focused Brief Therapy with Children
• Chapter 10. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy in Faith-Based Communities (Dan Gallagher)
• Introduction
• Finding Out What the Person Wants
• Grief: The Life of the Party
• Spiritual Issues
• God’s Job
• To Divorce or Not to Divorce: Is That the Question?
• On the Fly: A Hospital Visit
• Working with Groups
• Conclusion
• Chapter 11. “This Job Is So Demanding.” Using Solution-Focused Questions to Assess and Relieve Burnout (Yvonne Dolan and Thorana Nelson)
• Introduction
• “Amy”
• Conclusion
• Chapter 12. Applying Solution-Focused Brief Therapy in Mental Health Practice (Alasdair J. Macdonald)
• Introduction to the “Medical Model”
• Influence of History and Culture
• Major Mental Disorders
• Urgent Assessment
• Scheduled Assessments
• Management of the Acutely Disturbe

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