Solution Focused Brief Therapy offers at least an enhancement to existing therapeutic approaches and at best an alternative to other evidence based therapies. It utilises process techniques that predate CBT but which the latter has begun to embrace, whilst sharing a great deal with both Systemic and Client Centred approaches. This course gives you an in-depth introduction to this effective approach.
This evidence-based two-day course is designed to provide you with the highest possible standard of training, a solid grounding in Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) and enable you to make immediate use of your learning on return to your workplace. It is invaluable in a range of health care and social services environments across the age span.
What you will take away from the course:
An understanding of the principles and techniques contained within Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
A toolbox of simple but effective strategies and tips for working more successfully with your clients, no matter how difficult or stuck they are
An approach for dealing with increasing work pressures more productively
Discover how “brief” doesn’t have to mean “superficial” or “second rate”, but can mean “better and more effective”
New insights into your clients and into solutions to their problems. Understand what “client centred” really means
Techniques to prevent client dependency
Increased confidence for working with your most complex and difficult clients
Why you cannot afford to miss this course:
Learn how complex multiple problems don’t need lengthy complex solutions
Effect change in behaviour, thoughts and feelings with only 1-4 contacts… even with very “stuck” clients
Identify your most challenging clients’ personal strengths and resources
Discover how to be optimistic and motivated with your most difficult clients
Learn how to be brief when you were trained to be deep and spot complex causes and needs
Extensive real case illustrations
Video demonstrations of techniques
Case consultation with lots of opportunities to address delegates’ difficulties with clients
Course outline:
Introduction to Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
Evidence base and applicability to different client and staff groups. Understanding the trap of the CLEPPER approach in traditional models of helping.
Softening Things Up
Rapport building (with a difference!).
Introducing problem variation and change perception
Scaling to identify client resources and solutions
The role of Exceptions and how focusing on how things could be worse makes them better
Why don’t people solve their problems
The role of “experimental behaviour” Doing The problem in detail and pattern intervention
What constitutes a complex case?
Future causality and social constructionism as a way of viewing complex cases differently
Involuntary/mandated clients and ASD diagnoses
An introduction to the Miracle Question (MQ)
Outline and purpose of the MQ
Video / live demonstrations of the MQ
The Miracle Question Continued
MQ practice
Where does the MQ fit into therapy and where do you go afterwards ?
Dealing with unhealthy and unrealistic Miracles
What to do if your client’s preferred future is one you can not support ?
Pretence and treating weaknesses as strengths
Treating deficits as resources and the therapeutic value of faking
Case consultancy
FAQ about this course:
Do I need prior knowledge of Solution Focused Brief Therapy?
No prior knowledge is required. However, a background in a "helping profession" working within a defined model of practice is desirable but not essential.
How will I know if Brief Solution Therapy will work with my clients? They are very unmotivated/ damaged/cognitively impaired.
The evidence base for Brief Solution Therapy is now very extensive and one of its key strengths is that it does not require the client to even agree they have a problem in order for the approach to be used. The only requirement is that the client is able and willing to communicate with you in some way. The approach has been used with those identified as offenders, those with Autistic Spectrum Disorder and those with severe enduring mental health problems – amongst many others
I’m not a Brief Solution Focused Therapist. I’m a CBT Therapist/Client Centred Therapist/ Exploratory Psychotherapist/Group Therapist. Is this course any use to me?
Yes! There are a number of reasons for this. Firstly, Brief Solution has often been described as a non-theoretical approach. Without going into further detail here, you are likely to find that many of its components “bolt onto” your existing therapeutic modality. It does not require you to “give up” your current approach in order to use it. Secondly, it has a strong evidence base regarding its outcome effectiveness. It is also supported by a great deal of work within general psychology (especially neuropsychology). Thirdly, although providing new and different tools, you will find much that is already familiar and similar to the approach you use.
Actually I’m not a psychotherapist/counsellor at all! Is this course any use to me?
Yes… as long as you are involved in the field of helping people to change their behaviour and attitudes! For instance, it has been used in a variety of health behaviour change fields (including smoking cessation and weight loss) and with client groups as diverse as the unemployed and those with learning difficulties. One of the major UK books in the field is written by a Speech and Language therapist and it is also used as a management, supervision and team building approach.
Paul GranthamConsultant Clinical Psychologist, Founder and Director of SDS Seminars
Paul Grantham, Chartered Clinical Psychologist, a Senior Associate of The Royal Society of Medicine, Accredited CBT Therapist. He is the Founder and Director of SDS Ltd and one of the most popular and inspirational tutors in the field of psychological skills training.
“Very useful approach for service users to explore their own resources in coping with difficult problems.”
“Course tutor enigmatic, enthusiastic and wonderfully enjoyable as a facilitator. Great course all round!”
“I just finished watching both days of the SFBT course with Paul. Would you please pass along to him my feedback of what a great trainer he is. I appreciated the chance to practice the techniques and also the reasoning he provided behind why we were doing them. In short, what was clear to me throughout the two days is that we are always trying to connect the client to their own best self/strengths/solutions in the future by looking at what has worked, imagining what could work (MQ), reframing to the positive, and having them try it out. Paul is a gifted teacher. Thanks again for the wonderful course. I look forward to taking more in the future.”
“Very useful! Simple, practical techniques I can use when I’m working alongside patients. It is great to have an opportunity to attend a training course run by a highly-qualified professional. It makes all the difference.”
A revelation like this on how we might be able to guide young people to disrupt their own patterns makes me want to travel back in time to help a couple of folks who I am sure would have benefitted. Thanks so much
This video series is an attempt to give practitioners a clear explanation of the SFT process and guidance about its use with the variety of clients. You will see unique footage of a live consultation with a client conducted by an experienced SFT practitioner Stephen Conlon. The interview is not rehearsed and the therapist (just like the viewer) doesn’t know what problem the client will want to address during the session. You will watch how the therapist approaches the issue, builds trust, explores the possible solutions with the client – all in front of the viewer's eyes.
This video series is an attempt to give practitioners a clear explanation of the SFT process and guidance about its use with the variety of clients. You will see unique footage of a live consultation with a client conducted by an experienced SFT practitioner Stephen Conlon. The interview is not rehearsed and the therapist (just like the viewer) doesn’t know what problem the client will want to address during the session. You will watch how the therapist approaches the issue, builds trust, explores the possible solutions with the client – all in front of the viewer's eyes.
