Mental Health - SFBT

This week we focused on Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT). This type of therapy is very close to what the title implies. It focuses on the solutions and is a form of therapy that does not take a terribly large amount of time. Similar to Reality Therapy, this type of therapy does not focus on past events and how they might have influenced the present condition. These therapies share the idea that just because it is known how the problem came about, it does not necessarily inform how to fix the problem. The example used in our textbook is about a flat tire. While the process of receiving a flat tire may help us to avoid hitting a pot hole or bumping over a curb, it does not tell us how to fix the tire. I like this analogy and think it is useful in certain situations.

If we take the attitude that our present and future are more important than our past, we are then likely to have a fresh perspective each day. This is not to say that one should ignore the past entirely, rather that each day or moment we have an opportunity to examine a problem in a new light. This is the perspective of SFBT. It does not matter what has happened in the past, right now is what is important and working towards a solution is where the focus should be. In addition, SFBT adds to this by bringing in the idea of "building on positive things that work." Three central quotes revolve around the idea of SFBT:

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
"If it works a little, build on it and try to do more of the part that is working."
"If it is broke, do something different to fix it."

An important thing to keep in mind about SFBT is that while it is solution driven, it does not rely on solving the problem all at once. People seem to get discouraged when they imagine their worst problem and can see no way on how to resolve it except the same negative, seductive thing they continue to do -- which keeps them in the same miserable spot of not confronting the problem. An idea behind SFBT is to break down the major problem and put it into small steps the individual could take that would make them feel better. If they have achieved smaller goals, it is possible to build on those successes and lead to more progress. This is not to say that the problem will ever entirely be solved, but that it is in a better place.

I attempted this therapy this week and the results were not terribly successful. I think I have a tendency to want to help people with problems that they themselves do not see as a problem. If people are comfortable in what they are doing it is impossible to change their minds. I would love to try this therapy in a setting in which the person had a real problem that they wished to solve. I am hoping to get this opportunity this week. Regardless, I did attempt this therapy with someone who did not ask for it.

It took quite a bit of discussion to lead the conversation in the direction of therapy. After it had been achieved, I asked questions about what the person thought would be in their capabilities in order to make the situation better. Most of the replies were "why should I do anything at all?" But some were followed by thoughtful pauses and unsure responses which lead me to believe that the person was considering the alternatives. I did not use the miracle question in this situation because I imagined the person's miracle would be that the problem would be gone -- and in this scenario that was not possible.

Overall, I learned a great deal about change and how difficult it can be for some people. As mentioned in other entries, change is something that a person must want to have in their life in order to welcome it. Perhaps some of the jumps I was making were too big and that would be important to keep in mind. I was stuck on certain jumps I thought the person could do and maybe I should have tried smaller strides that were less intimidating. Although, it could have also been the persons inability to see the purpose in resolving a problem in a way that was not harmful. I also left out a key component of SFBT which was to build on what has worked for the person in the past.