Important Concepts in Solution-Focused Theory: Preferred Choice over Others

SOLUTION-FOCUSED THEORY
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Introduction
Solution-focused theory, also known as Solution-Focused Brief Theory (SFBT), is a psychotherapeutic approach that has been in use for over 20 years (De Jong & Berg, 2008). The approach utilizes quite different techniques unlike many traditional treatment approaches. This paper, therefore, seeks to expound on the Solution-Focused Theory based on a specific client – Ana – and her needs.
Question 1: Important Concepts in Solution-Focused Theory
The Solution-Focused Theory has three major concepts: the first one consists of the conversation-intensive phase where clients and therapists discuss; the second concept involves active collaboration between the clients and therapists in forming new meaning in the clients; and the third concept involves encouragement from therapists on their clients to co-construct steps geared at achieving their desired future.
Question 2: Preferred Choice over Others
The reason for choosing the Solution-Focused Theory is due to the fact that it utilizes a ‘softer’ approach to a client unlike other approaches. It tends to focus on establishing a common ground between therapists and clients. In this specific case, Ana should be actively involved in setting her goals, while her therapist only helps her to realize her desired future through social scaling (Murdock, 2004).
Question 3: Goals and Intervention Strategies
In Solution-Focused Theory, goals and interventions are the main components. Goals are constructed and developed through conversations that are unique to the approach. Clients are actively engaged in setting realistic and specific goals based on what they want in the future. The interventions utilized in the process include: finding past solutions; finding exceptional moments in a client’s history when a problem could have occurred, but did not; utilizing questions as the main intervention tool; questions focused on the present and the future; giving compliments for successful follow-through; and encouragement of the client in doing more of what seems to work in the process (McGee, Del Vento, & Bavelas, 2005).
Question 4: Solution-Focused Theory as a Long-term Approach
The solution-Focused Theory is long-term in its action because every component of the approach focuses on a desired future that a client defines as better. The clients can even utili...