What is solution-focus brief therapy?

The basic ideas for solution-focus brief therapy began over 30 years ago.  Steve de Shazer became interested in what people do that help them find solutions to the problems that brought them into his office.  This was a very different way of thinking about therapy (it still is).  Most therapy is practiced from a theory.   So the client is viewed through the lens of the therapist's theoretical orientation.  What de Shazer was doing was very different; he was learning what works from clients who were figuring things out.  De Shazer learned to ask useful questions and these questions helped the client think in more positive and useful ways about their predicaments.   As he developed these useful questions from the clients, he applied them to other clients keeping the ones that work.  Later with his wife, Insoo Kim Berg, and other therapists at the Brief Family Therapy Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, they continued to research and develop the solution-focused approach.  Finally in 1982, they called what they were doing, solution-focus brief therapy.  I think a useful way of grasping what solution focus is about is to imagine that someone says to a therapist that they have a problem 98% of their waking hours.  The traditional therapist who might practice from a problem focused approach would want to know a lot about the 98%.  The solution-focused therapist would be interested in the 2%.   TOP

What is the difference between brief therapy and short-term therapy?

The focus of short-term therapy is usually on the number of sessions.  For example, the therapist might tell the client that they have 20 sessions together and anything that is to be accomplished will have to be completed within the 20 sessions.  Brief therapy, as we define it, is as many sessions as necessary to develop a satisfactory solution to the problem that motivated you to seek help and not one session more or less than that.  In my experience as a brief therapist, I usually find that brief therapy is actually shorter than short-term therapy.  TOP

But my problems are very complicated; won't I need a lot of sessions?

That would be true if we focused on the problems rather than what you want to be different and more satisfying in your life.  I suppose it's like taking a trip.  By having a specific direction (goal), there's a much better chance you're going to get somewhere useful and get there more briefly than without a plan.  In fact, The Handbook of Psychotherapy and Behavior Change , a well respected book that covers over 60 years of psychotherapy research, states that in comparative studies of brief and time unlimited therapy there are virtually no differences in  terms of both long-term and short-term results.   TOP

What should I expect when I meet with you?

Before we first meet, I will ask you to think about how you will know that our meetings together are being useful to you.  This will be the question that will begin our journey together.  Pretty much the rest of the time will be spent putting the details on that difference.  Once I've gathered as much information about your vision of a better future as I need, I'll probably take a break, go off by myself, review my notes, think about our conversation, and then return to share those thoughts with you.  I might (and probably will) have a suggestion of something for you to do, or think about after you return home.    TOP

 How often will we meet?

Whether we will continue to meet, how often, and when we should schedule our next appointment will be your decision to make.  There's no evidence to show that there's any advantage in meeting weekly.  My experience tells me that most of what happens that moves therapy in a positive direction occurs between sessions: in your real life.    TOP

How much do you charge?

I charge $80.00 per session.  The first session is often longer than the others.  I don't stick rigidly to a 50 minute session; it could be longer, it could be shorter depending upon what we accomplish together.    TOP

Do you have a sliding scale?

I'm willing to negotiate a lower fee if your financial situation warrants it.  TOP

Do you take insurance?

I've often struggled with this question.  My decision is not to apply to be on provider panels.  I think that managed care puts a 3rd person in-between a therapist and the client and makes treatment decisions that should best be made by a therapist and the client.  Chances are even if you pay the $80 fee and saw me for the average 4 sessions or less (which is the average for  brief therapy that's sufficient to help you get on track) you'll probably be paying less than you would be if you paid the co-pay for the 20 sessions that managed care allows working with a problem focused therapist.  TOP

I don't live near you, but I would really like the idea of working solution-focused.  Can this be arranged?

Absolutely.  I have done phone counseling with clients in other parts of this country and other countries as well..  The other option (cheaper and better) is using a computer, microphone and Skype.  Skype is a free voice over internet provider that allows you to make free calls to other Skype users.  If you have a video cam, we will actually be able to see each other as well but that is not a prerequisite.  TOP

 
All right, I'm ready to make the move.  How do I contact you to set up our first appointment?

That's simple:  contact me via email or call 845-778-7106.  TOP

For further information contact Joel