Sarah Eldridge & Christopher Pattyn
COUN 578- Group C
11/30/2022
Theory
Key Features
Interventions
Cultural
Considerations
Additional
Information
Solution-Focused
Present and future
focused modality
Pretreatment Change
Questions:
“Since making the
appointment, have
either of you noticed
any changes within the
relationship”
This is a very linear
approach to treatment
that aligns with a
western medical model
and is driven to find
solutions to problems
and set goals. Modifying
the strategy to address
cultural considerations is
essential.
This modality
doesn’t focus on the
impact of trauma or
the past.
Utilizes strengths of
the clients
Does not focus on
the past: problem
origin, debating the
problem, etc.
Future oriented and
utilizes goal setting,
outcomes clients
desire.
Clients are believed
to already possess
the tools and
strengths necessary
for change.
Therapist redirects
focus from what
isn’t working to
what has been
working; exceptions
to what hasn’t
worked,
encouraging what
has worked, and
stopping what
hasn’t worked.
Goal setting
initially revolves
around realistic,
concrete, and small
tangible changes;
with belief that
change will occur
with problem talk
shifts to solutions.
Exceptions:
Finding exceptions
when the problem is
not present may point
to possible solutions.
Coping Questions:
“Why aren’t things
worse in the
relationship”
That includes changing
scaling questions to
represent what the client
interprets as scale.
Modifying goals to
include cultural context.
Scaling Questions:
“On a scale of 1-10,
how motivated do you
feel in making this
relationship work?”
Modifying “miracle”
questions to reflect client
identity and miracles
may not be appropriate
based on cultural context
and symptomology.
Miracle Questions:
“What would it look
like if … problem was
solved?”
This theory has been
used in many different
contexts, including
couples counseling,
individual therapy, and
relational work with
families.
Relational Questions:
Trying to orient one
partner to the other
with a question like
“what do you believe
they see in you to want
the relationship to
work?”
Compliments:
Encouraging
compliments of one
another and self.
Normalizing:
Shift problems into a
light of acceptance and
a normal part of life.
Mutualization:
Finding the common
Other modalities
should be used to
address underlying
issues if domestic
violence or past
trauma impacts the
relationship.
ground between the
clients that allows
them to find the
solution(s) to their
problem.
Good Story
Orientation:
Focusing on how the
solution talk can orient
the relationship away
from the problem in
reframing it.
Homework:
Can include things like
strength resourcing,
solution finding,
exercises
experimenting in
approaching problem
from a different
perspective.