MFT 5105 WEEK 11: SOLUTION-FOCUSED THERAPY MODEL
| LATEST UPDATE
Week 11: Solution-Focused Therapy Model
AmyLynn K. Bodensteiner
Northcentral University
, SOLUTION-FOCUSED THERAPY MODEL 2
Week 11: Solution-Focused Therapy Model
“Small steps can lead to big changes” said by Steve de Shazer, is a phrase often heard
when learning about Solution-Focused Therapy (Perry, 2019, p. 261). This paper will present to
the reader an overall general knowledge and background of how solution-focused therapy came
into being, along with model assumptions, the role of the therapist, legal and ethical
considerations and what population receives the most benefit from this type of therapy. Next, the
reader will learn how this model “fits” this author by exploring personal strengths as well as
areas of improvement along with comparing the similarities to the Recovery Model. To conclude,
this paper will offer a brief case study applying the concepts and interventions of solution-
focused therapy.
Solution-Focused Therapy
The roots of solution-focused therapy originated at the Mental Research Institute (MRI)
in Palo Alto, California, when the Brief Therapy Center was founded in 1966. At the time,
therapists were working on developing a “briefer approach to therapy” (Perry, 2019, p. 262). As
this new way of therapy unfolded, changes were made in how the client was no longer
considered a patient and their words were given more attention to what they perceived the
problem to be, not what the therapist determined as the problem. However, during this
development, focus was still on the problem, not the solution. “Exceptions” were generated
during this discovery giving leeway to the thought process of what it was like when the problem
was not present or as severe and identifying strengths of the client during those times (Perry,
2019). Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg were intrigued with this new development of brief
therapy, but were more interested with focusing on solutions, rather than the problems. This led
de Shazer and Kim Berg into developing and being the key founders of solution-focused brief
| LATEST UPDATE
Week 11: Solution-Focused Therapy Model
AmyLynn K. Bodensteiner
Northcentral University
, SOLUTION-FOCUSED THERAPY MODEL 2
Week 11: Solution-Focused Therapy Model
“Small steps can lead to big changes” said by Steve de Shazer, is a phrase often heard
when learning about Solution-Focused Therapy (Perry, 2019, p. 261). This paper will present to
the reader an overall general knowledge and background of how solution-focused therapy came
into being, along with model assumptions, the role of the therapist, legal and ethical
considerations and what population receives the most benefit from this type of therapy. Next, the
reader will learn how this model “fits” this author by exploring personal strengths as well as
areas of improvement along with comparing the similarities to the Recovery Model. To conclude,
this paper will offer a brief case study applying the concepts and interventions of solution-
focused therapy.
Solution-Focused Therapy
The roots of solution-focused therapy originated at the Mental Research Institute (MRI)
in Palo Alto, California, when the Brief Therapy Center was founded in 1966. At the time,
therapists were working on developing a “briefer approach to therapy” (Perry, 2019, p. 262). As
this new way of therapy unfolded, changes were made in how the client was no longer
considered a patient and their words were given more attention to what they perceived the
problem to be, not what the therapist determined as the problem. However, during this
development, focus was still on the problem, not the solution. “Exceptions” were generated
during this discovery giving leeway to the thought process of what it was like when the problem
was not present or as severe and identifying strengths of the client during those times (Perry,
2019). Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg were intrigued with this new development of brief
therapy, but were more interested with focusing on solutions, rather than the problems. This led
de Shazer and Kim Berg into developing and being the key founders of solution-focused brief
