Solution Focused Theory and Family Counseling

Solution-focused therapy is a form of counseling that seeks to help the client develop a solution in their issues for themselves. The model of therapy aims at finding out the client’s perception about a viable solution and helping them embrace their solutions. In this therapy model, the therapist leads a conversation that helps the clients to appreciate their strengths and the fact that solutions are within their power (Gladding, 2010). The solution based family counseling model is a form of solution-based counseling that is carried out in the context of an issue affecting a family (Guterman, 2015). The following study reviews the strength and weakness as well as the overall effectiveness of the solution-based family counseling model in light of the cases presented in the YouTube video.
The clients from the various counseling sessions in this video present different dynamics to the counseling session. In the first counseling session, the client has a problem with anger. He disagreed with his girlfriend and hit his girlfriend. Moreover, the client reveals that he is on probation and has been referred for counseling by his probation officer. In the second case, the client is addicted to drugs and alcohol resulting in the hampered relationship with his grandmother. He is equally displeased with the effects of drug and alcohol addiction but willing to recover. He has struggled to overcome but has always failed. In the third case, the clients are a couple. The husband’ addiction to alcohol, is threatening their marriage. He was recently released from jail due to alcohol-related offenses.
There are three techniques of solution-based therapy employed in these videos. The first technique is finding out previous solutions. In this technique, the therapist tries to find out how they clients solved a similar problem before (Guterman, 2015). In the third case, the clients had been separated before and had ultimately come to reunite again. Moreover, the therapist seeks to establish why they had been separated and how they solved their problem. It is apparent from the client’s response that their love for each other and the care for their children led them to reunite. As a counselor, I would use this technique to help the clients identify how previous methods of solving the problem were effective and how they can employ similar techniques to their situation. Using compliments as a technique is invaluable especially in appreciating the client’s problem and the efforts adopted while trying to deal with the problem (Guterman, 2015). In the second case, the client expresses the difficulties he encounters due to his drug addiction. The therapist appreciates the efforts that he has tried to solve the problem. I would use compliments as a technique to help the client understand the gaps in the measures adopted to resolve the problem. Thirdly, the video uses scaling questions. For instance, the therapist in the second session asks the client why he prioritizes stopping drug addiction to alcohol addiction. I would use scaling question to help clients track their progress as well as evaluate their situation.
The main strength of this model of therapy is that it takes a considerably shorter time. Moreover, it becomes apparent to the client when the objectives of the therapy have been achieved. However, the model fixes the therapist to the client’s objectives even when he or she knows that they might not right (Gladding, 2010).
The most attractive aspect of this theory relates to the fact that it helps the client to develop their ideal solutions to their problem. Therefore, they own the process of solution finding and recover. However, the theory limits the therapist to the objectives that the clients set.


References
“(1) Solution focus - Solutions Step by Step_clip1.mp4.” YouTube. Published on 21 Nov, 2010 buy Andrewstrainingvideo www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjdJhdA9mE4&list=PLgswj8XPfriWqAECgkNLXLjGvjUXdfSYQ
Gladding, S. T. (2010). “Chapter 14: Solutions-focused brief therapy and narrative family therapy.” In ‘Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice.’ Merrill Prentice Hall
Guterman, J. T. (2015). The Future of Solution-Focused Counseling. Mastering the Art of Solution-Focused Counseling, 2(2), 225-240.