Solution-Focused Therapy in Practice

Name: Solution-Focused Therapy in Practice
Price: 109.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 978-1-4338-4129-3

With John Murphy

ISBN: 978-1-4338-4129-3

June 2023

Item # 3841293

DVD

$109.99

for member price

Ships free to U.S. addresses

Available formats

DVD

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Alexander Street Press

Part of the Series I: Systems of Psychotherapy

Available as part of the APA PsycTherapy database, through your or your institution’s subscription. Questions? Contact Psycdatabases@apa.org.

Description

In Solution-Focused Therapy in Practice, Dr. John Murphy collaborates with a client to set a direction for therapy, build on exceptions and other client resources, and construct a client-directed solution.

Solution-focused therapy (SFT) is a collaborative, culturally responsive approach that invites clients to describe what they want from therapy and apply what they already have toward achieving it in the shortest time possible. In contrast to therapist-directed, problem-focused approaches that have dominated the psychotherapy profession, SFT encourages clients to focus on future solutions (vs. past problems) and to implement self-directed solutions or “ways forward” based on their indigenous strengths and resources (vs. therapist prescriptions and interventions). Dr. Murphy demonstrates this evidence-based approach by partnering with the client to set a direction for therapy, build on exceptions and other client resources, and construct a client-directed solution. This empowers the client to identify and increase elements of themselves and their lives that support their hopes and goals. This powerful demonstration is framed by an informative discussion hosted by Dr. Cheri Marmarosh.

This demonstration features a client portrayed by an actor based on a composite of different cases.

Approach

Solution-focused therapy (SFT) is a collaborative, culturally responsive approach that invites clients to describe what they want from therapy and apply what they already have toward achieving it in the shortest time possible. In contrast to therapist-directed, problem-focused approaches that have dominated the psychotherapy profession, SFT encourages clients to focus on future solutions (vs. past problems) and to implement self-directed solutions or ways forward based on their indigenous strengths and resources (vs. therapist-directed prescriptions and interventions). The three main tasks of SFT—setting a direction or goal, building on exceptions and other client resources, and exploring progress—empower clients to identify and increase elements of themselves and their lives that support their hopes and goals. SFT practitioners ask useful questions, listen to clients’ responses, and amplify aspects of their responses and lives that support their goals. When being purely solution-focused, there is rarely anything else the therapist does outside of these three activities. SFT’s efficiency, evidence base, and cultural responsiveness are among the many reasons why the approach has become increasingly popular among practitioners and clients in many different countries.

Contributor bios

Dr. John Murphy is a licensed psychologist and professor emeritus of psychology and counseling at the University of Central Arkansas. He has worked as a high school teacher, school psychologist, psychotherapist, and consultant. He is a former finalist for NASP School Psychologist of the Year and an internationally recognized practitioner, author, and trainer of collaborative and solution-focused practice with young people, families, schools, and others.

Dr. Murphy’s books have been translated into several languages and include Strengths-Based Therapy (with Jacqueline A. Sparks, 2018), Brief Intervention for School Problems, 2nd ed. (with Barry Duncan, 2007), and the award-winning Solution-Focused Counseling in Schools, 4th ed. (2023). His work is featured in The New York Times bestseller Switch, the Child Therapy with the Experts DVD training series, and various psychotherapy textbooks.

He serves as a consultant/trainer for the North American Chinese Psychological Association and a project director with the Heart & Soul of Change Project, an international research and advocacy group that promotes client-directed services for underrepresented persons and groups. In addition to providing psychotherapy for clients of all ages, Dr. Murphy conducts training workshops and consultations throughout the US and other countries for professional associations, mental health agencies, universities, school systems, and the general public.

Suggested resources

De Jong, P., & Berg, I. K. (2013). Interviewing for solutions (4th ed.). Brooks/Cole.

de Shazer, S., Dolan, Y., Korman, H., Trepper, T., McCollum, E., & Berg, I. K. (2021). More than miracles: The state of the art of solution-focused brief therapy (Classic edition). Routledge.

Duncan, B. L. (2014). On becoming a better therapist: Evidence-based practice one client at a time (2nd ed.). American Psychological Association.

Franklin, C., Trepper, T. S., Gingerich, W. J., & McCollum, E. E. (Eds.). (2012). Solution-focused brief therapy: A handbook of evidence-based practice. Oxford University Press.

McKergow, M. (2021). The next generation of solution focused practice: Stretching the world for new opportunities and progress. Routledge.

Murphy, J. J. (2023). Solution-focused counseling in schools (4th ed.). American Counseling Association.

Ratner, H., George, E., & Iveson, C. (2012). Solution-focused brief therapy: 100 key points and techniques. Routledge.

Shennan, G. (2019). Solution-focused practice: Effective communication to facilitate change (2nd ed.). Red Globe Press.