Interventions/therapeutic relationships

Question 1

List the uses of exception questions. Give examples.

Answer 1

Constructing Solutions & Exceptions
“Can you think of a time in the past when you did not have this problem?” “What’s different about those times?”
“What would have to happen for that to occur more often?”
Therapist highlights what the client has shared about previous solutions, exceptions & goals.

Question 2

List the uses of coping questions. Give exampls.

Answer 2

Coping questions
“How have you managed to prevent it from getting worse?”
“This sounds hard, how have you managed to cope with this to the degree that you are”

Question 3

Uses of Miracle question

Answer 3

Developing & clarifying treatment goals.
The question communicates respect for the immensity of the problem.
Helps client develop smaller more manageable goals.
Promoting hope.
Preparing clients to notice exceptions.
A virtual rehearsal of their preferred future

Question 4

Scaling questions

Answer 4

Assessment device – ongoing measurement of client progress.
Conveys therapist’s belief that the client’s evaluation is more important than the therapists’.
Intervention – helps client focus on exceptions and prior solutions & emphasizes change as it occurs.
Better – elicit thick description, compliment
Same – compliment, “how did you keep it from getting worse?”
Worse – coping questions “how have you managed to cope with this to the degree that you have?”

Question 5

Three common type of therapeutic relationships

Answer 5

1. Customer. Client and therapist collaboratively define clear problem and work toward a solution.
2. Complainant. Client identified problem, is motivated to change, but believes it is out of their control & expect other to change.
3. Visitors. Client may not think/disagrees that the identified problem is an issue for them.

Question 6

Uses of solution language. Give examples. (They are mixed in with exception questions)

Answer 6

Can you think of a time in the past when you did not have this problem? What is different for you during those times?
Where did you get the idea to do it differently then? Who’s idea was that?
What else is different when the problem doesn’t happen?
What part of the solution exists in your life already?
When were you the closest to the solution happening?
What would be the first sign that progress is happening?
What do other people notice about you during times when the problem isn’t happening? What do you notice about other people?
What would have to happen for that to occur more often? What else would help it happen? What would your (partner, etc.) say has to happen for that to occur more often?

Question 7

Describe the essential attributes of a solution focused therapist

Answer 7

• Warm and friendly
• Naturally positive & supportive
• Open-minded and flexible to new ideas
• Excellent listeners, especially the ability to listen for client’s previous solutions embedded in “problem-talk”
• Tenacious and patient

Question 8

Main interventions

Answer 8

Therapist stance: positive, collegial, solution-focused.
Looking for previous solutions.
Looking for exceptions.
Questions vs. directives or interpretations.
Present- and future-focused questions vs. past-oriented questions.
Compliments.
Gentle nudging to do more of what is working.