Our Solution Focused Conversations course is also available virtually via MSTeams or Zoom for either “whole-team” training for up to 30 delegates.
When working with people to help them thrive or even just cope better, regardless of circumstance, we acknowledge that only the individual will truly know when that point is in sight. For some it will be “just able to sit with other people without panicking” for others it may be “to be able to acknowledge that I have coped despite….”. Real, measurable, uniquely personal goals are the beginning of any journey, of course, and this strength-based model helps the person connect with the expert: themselves.
The worker takes a role as a facilitator in the process of change rather than that of prescriptive expert. The worker is encouraged to view themselves as a “conduit” between an individual and any small goals that the individual identifies. Helping people to look at, and talk about, a realistic preferred future where they have achieved their required change, or goals or just to improve their “coping skills” or gain improved “self-managing” can be influential in helping to achieve sustained improvement.
Our work is founded in the principles of Solution Focused Brief Therapy, the main ethos, as described by the founder of the model, psychotherapist Steve deShazer, is that every client should be offered the opportunity to “Look at, and talk about, the day after the problem is resolved, or coping skills are improved, rather than tracing the pathology of the problem”
Our working ethos also includes the research of Professor Ellen Langer of Harvard University, which shows that telling, explaining and cajoling have little, if any, affect on bringing anyone to make change in their lives i.e. to be more active; to find their voice; to take the exercise that will help with depression or to improve relationships.
Participants on this training course have an opportunity to take part in experiential exercises that raise awareness of the effectiveness of eliciting “exceptions to the prevailing problem”, small step scaling, subtle “future talk” conversations and our own unique visual resources including The Change Balloon. Role Plays are not used in any of our training courses, in keeping with the ethos of the approach that “each individual thinks uniquely”
The course culminates on the “What’s Better?” sessions – equipping the worker with a structure that helps clients to move on in small steps from each session, using collaborative and constructive language to provide a consistent review of what is working well.
Whether working within Children & Families, Youth Offending, Schools or Mental Health – feedback indicates that the Solution Focused language, the “curiosity” of the worker in “what works” is instrumental in helping people who are stuck or who are resistant to the possibility of change and achievement.
The Solution Focused Conversations course is applicable to anyone who is tasked with helping people make change or find and harness their coping strategies in a more effective way.
The training encourages:
- Working in a more holistic, whole-person approach
- Utilising the strengths and expertise of the individual rather than acting as prescriptive experts
- Bespoke working tailored to the needs of the individual
- Using the ethos, language and structure of the main Models, encouraging a move towards “preferred futures” rather than tracing the pathology of the problem
- Skills to help individuals to independently sustain change or coping strategies.
I thoroughly enjoyed this course. I liked that the delivery was not “power point” driven, nothing more designed to create path and detachment than an overdose of PP and graphics. Training was not “content heavy” but all about practice and less about postulating theory and process. Trainer was very skillful in requiring that we develop our own brain plasticity via the weird and wonderful questioning. Very fresh, very original and very entertaining. Huge respect!|
Rachel Caine, Education Mentoring Coordinator, West Berks Youth Offending Team
I see the importance of families as expert in their own lives. Also I will definitely use the majority of the tools discussed in the training – I really liked the simplicity of it all. Loved the training – thought provoking and very interesting
Chris Cahill, Social Worker, Pontypridd, Wales
This training was outstanding. I wish I had had this training when I was newly qualified. I also suspect that the models could be very useful in supporting colleagues and motivating staff. I absolutely loved this training – one of the best I have participated in, in years. I also liked Eileen’s narratives and stories that helped to enhance the model – live case studies were invaluable.
Rebecca Lingard, Lead for Nurse Development Programme, NHS, East London
Please contact us for informal discussion on Tel 07779 242 289 or email info@brief-therapy-uk.com