Handbook of Solution–Focused Brief Therapy

A much needed resource for applying solution–focused brief therapy techniques

About a decade ago, a new approach appeared on the horizon of psychotherapy. This simple approach, variously called solution–oriented, solution–focused, strength–based, and competence–based therapy empowers clients, reenergizes burned–out and discouraged therapists, and happens to be a good fit with the demands of today s managed care environment. The pioneers in this work provided the bare bones of a theory and methods which, by now, many therapists have learned.
In this comprehensive and exhaustive work, a second generation of solution–based therapists go beyond the basics and extend the therapy to the treatment of domestic violence, chronic and severe mental illness, grief, school problems, and many other serious problems that at first glance seemed beyond the reach of such a simple method. Do you want to reduce the length of or necessity for hospitalization? Do you want to reduce the waiting list at your agency? Do you want to learn about the latest theoretical developments or research? It s all here. Check it out.
BILL O HANLON, author or coauthor of In Search of Solutions, A Brief Guide to Brief Therapy, A Field Guide to Possibility Land, Rewriting Love Stories, and Shifting Contexts

After seeing videotapes of the many worried well clients in my practice, therapists attending my workshops frequently ask the what about questions. What about working with domestic violence cases? What about working with court–ordered cases? What about working with the chronically mentally ill? At last, answers to all these questions, and in one place, the Handbook of Solution–Focused Brief Therapy. Try it, you ll like it!
MICHELLE WEINER–DAVIS, author or coauthor of Divorce Busting, In Search of Solutions, and Fire Your Shrink

PART ONE: FOUNDATIONS OF SOLUTION–FOCUSED THERAPY

1. Rethinking Our Assumptions: Thinking Anew, in a Postmodern World 9
John L. Walter and Jane E. Peller

2. Solution–Focused Therapy and the Postmodern: A Critical Analysis 27
Barbara S. Held

3. Crafting of Consciousness Through Form: Solution–Focused Therapy as a Spiritual Path 44
Dvorah Simon

PART TWO: APPLICATIONS OF SOLUTION–FOCUSED THERAPY

4. Solution–Focused Domestic Violence Views: Bridges Toward a New Reality in Couples Therapy 65
Eve Lipchik and Anthony D. Kubicki

5. Solution–Focused Work in the Hospital: A Continuum of Care Model for Inpatient Psychiatric Treatment 99
Kay Vaugh, Bonnie Cox Young, Denise C. Webster, and Marshall R. Thomas

6. Solution–Focused Supervision: The Coaxing of Expertise 128
Frank N. Thomas

7. Solution–Focused Therapy with Mandated Clients: Cooperating and the Uncooperative 152
Susan Lee Tohn and Jordan A. Oshlag

8. Solution–Focused Therapy in the School 184
John J. Murphy

9. Solution–Focused Hospital Diversion: Treatment of First Choice 205
Judi Booker

10. Solution–Focused Grief Therapy 228
William R. Butler and Keith V. Powers

PART THREE: RESEARCH ON SOLUTION–FOCUSED THERAPY

11. A Clinician′s Guide to Research on Solution–Focused Therapy 251
A. Jay McKeel

12. Outcome Research on Treatment Conducted at the Brief Family Therapy Center, 1992–1993 272
Peter DeJong and Larry E. Hopwood

13. Research on the Process of Solution–Focused Therapy 229
Mark Beyebach, Alberto Rodriguez Morejon, David L. Palenzuela, and Jose Luis Rodriquez–Arias

14. What Works in Solution–Focused Therapy: A Qualitative Analysis of Client and Therapist Perceptions 225
Linda Metcalf, Frank N. Thomas, Barry L. Duncan, Scott D. Miller, na Mark A. Hubble

The Editors 351

The Contributors 353

Name Index 359

Subject Index 365