Question 1

Define "presuppositional question" and give 2 examples. Why are these important in solution-focused therapy?

Accepted Answer

A presuppositional question is a type of question that assumes a certain belief or understanding. In solution-focused therapy, these questions are important because they help guide the client's thinking and focus on positive outcomes.

One example of a presuppositional question in solution-focused therapy is "What are some steps you have already taken towards reaching your goal?" This question assumes that the client has already taken steps towards their goal, encouraging them to reflect on their progress and build on their successes.

Another example is "How will you know when you have achieved your desired outcome?" This question assumes that the client will achieve their desired outcome, prompting them to envision success and consider the signs of reaching their goal.

These types of questions are important in solution-focused therapy because they help shift the client's focus towards their strengths and abilities, rather than dwelling on problems or barriers. By assuming positive beliefs and outcomes, presuppositional questions can help empower the client and reinforce their confidence in finding solutions.

Question 2

Describe the theoretical rationale behind the Miracle Question as used by solution- focused therapists.

Accepted Answer

The Miracle Question is a key technique used in solution-focused therapy, a brief and goal-oriented approach to helping clients create positive change in their lives. The theoretical rationale behind the Miracle Question lies in the belief that clients have the capacity to envision and create their own solutions to their problems.

The Miracle Question asks clients to imagine a scenario in which their problem is miraculously solved overnight while they are sleeping. They are asked to describe what their life would be like if this miracle happened, and to envision in detail what would be different. This exercise is designed to help clients identify their goals, hopes, and values, and to shift their focus from the problem to the solution.

From a theoretical perspective, the Miracle Question is based on the assumption that clients have the resources and strengths within themselves to achieve their desired outcomes. By tapping into their imagination and vision of a better future, clients can gain insight into their own abilities and develop a clearer understanding of what they want to achieve. This in turn can help them take steps towards making their desired future a reality.

In summary, the Miracle Question is rooted in the belief that clients have the capacity for change and that by imagining a miracle, they can gain insight into their own desires and abilities to create positive change in their lives.

Question 3

Explain why solution-focused therapists are not interested in traditional diagnosis.

Accepted Answer

Solution-focused therapists are not interested in traditional diagnosis because they believe that focusing on diagnosing and labeling a client's problems can be counterproductive to the therapeutic process. Instead of pathologizing clients and placing them in specific diagnostic categories, solution-focused therapists prefer to focus on the client's strengths, resources, and potential solutions. They believe that by emphasizing the client's abilities and resilience, they can help the client to envision a future where they are no longer limited by their problems.

Additionally, solution-focused therapists believe that traditional diagnosis can perpetuate a sense of hopelessness and helplessness in clients. By labeling a client with a specific disorder or diagnosis, it can reinforce the idea that the client's problems are permanent and unchangeable. This can hinder the client's ability to see themselves as capable of making positive changes in their lives.

Instead, solution-focused therapists prefer to collaborate with the client to identify their goals, envision a preferred future, and explore the steps that can be taken to achieve that future. By focusing on the client's strengths and resources, solution-focused therapy aims to empower the client and foster a sense of hope and optimism. This approach is more aligned with the principles of positive psychology and the belief that individuals have the capacity for growth and change.

Question 4

Describe Visitors, Complainants, and Customers. Why, according to solution-focused therapists, is it not a good thing if your client is a Visitor?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe Visitors, Complainants, and Customers. Why, according...

Question 5

Discuss the research on the empirical validity and support for solution-focused theory 
and therapy.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss the research on the empirical validity...

Question 6

What are the strengths and weaknesses of feminist therapy in terms of working with clients from diverse backgrounds?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are the strengths and weaknesses of...

Question 7

Solution-focused therapy has been criticized for:

Accepted Answer

Solution-focused therapy has been criticized for its sole focus on symptom relief, as it emphasizes finding solutions rather than exploring underlying issues or causes of problems.

Question 8

Which of the following statements BEST describes the status of research that has been conducted on solution-focused therapy

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following statements BEST describes...

Question 9

Which of the following is true regarding empirical support for solution-focused therapy?

Accepted Answer

Solution-focused therapy has some empirical support for its effectiveness, and the research tends to focus more on outcomes rather than testing the underlying theory.

Question 10

One common criticism of solution-focused therapy as a method of working with clients who are from disadvantaged ethnic groups is that solution-focused therapy places too

Accepted Answer

The answer of One common criticism of solution-focused therapy as...

Question 11

Solution-focused therapists tend to believe that

Accepted Answer

Solution-focused therapists often operate under the belief that there is no one true reality, as they focus on the client's perspective and the solutions that work for them, rather than trying to uncover an objective truth.

Question 12

Donna comes to counseling because she thinks that she has obsessive compulsive disorder. She has numerous obsessive thoughts. One of these thoughts is that she has left the coffee-maker on in her apartment and that it will start a fire that will burn the building down. The coffee-maker worry results in her returning to her apartment 3 or 4 times each morning, and she is often late to work. Donna's solution-focused therapy counselor, Bob, wonders aloud if she is sensitive to detail, routine and order. Bob has

Accepted Answer

Bob has normalized the problem by suggesting that Donna's behavior might be due to sensitivity to detail, routine, and order, which reframes her obsessive thoughts in a more positive or typical light.

Question 13

Bob asks Donna about times when she does not go back to her apartment. From a solution-focused perspective, Bob has

Accepted Answer

Bob has disrupted the pattern of the complaint by asking Donna about times when she does not go back to her apartment. This is a solution-focused question because it focuses on what Donna is doing well and what she can do more of to improve her situation.

Question 14

Bob gives a case presentation to a bunch of counseling students. He states that "this client has a great strength in her ability to attend to detail." What mistake has Bob made?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Bob gives a case presentation to a...

Question 15

Bob asks Donna to go home and write some dialogue to bring to their next session. He tells her to write a conversation between the detail-oriented, Dee, and the slob, Dumb. Bob seems a little scattered in his approach; in fact, he is acting more like a _____ therapist than a solution-focused therapist and is using the _____ technique.

Accepted Answer

Bob is acting like a Gestalt therapist, which often involves exploring different parts of the self, such as the "top dog" and "underdog," to understand internal conflicts.

Question 16

A solution-focused therapist will MOST likely endorse which of the following statements:

Accepted Answer

Solution-focused therapy emphasizes the importance of small changes, as they can lead to a sense of hope and the possibility of further change.

Question 17

Greg, who is a solution-focused therapist, hypothesizes that Jessie might be a:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Greg, who is a solution-focused therapist, hypothesizes...

Question 18

Greg is likely to focus on Jessie's:

Accepted Answer

Greg is likely to focus on Jessie's thoughts about how the two of them could work together to make something different in Jessie's life because he is a therapist and his goal is to help Jessie improve her life.

Question 19

Which of the following interventions is Greg likely to try with Jessie?

Accepted Answer

Compliments are often used in therapeutic settings to build rapport and encourage positive behavior, making it likely that Greg would use this intervention with Jessie.

Question 20

Mark will likely conduct a formal assessment of Jane (e.g., a structured interview, brief measure of intelligence, and paper and pencil personality inventory) for the purpose of:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Mark will likely conduct a formal assessment...

Quiz 14: Solution-Focused Therapy