Introduction
Solution Focused Therapy (SFT) is a brief, goal-oriented, and evidence-based therapeutic approach that emphasizes on client’s strength and available resources in finding solutions to their problems rather than focusing on individual or family problems. As a social worker, I have chosen to apply this approach to a family in my field of placement facing a social problem that is related to generational trauma. Generational trauma is the transmission of emotional and psychological wounds from one generation to another (Grand & Salberg, 2021). In the chosen family, the trauma has been passed down from previous generations resulting in a range of negative consequences, including relationship problems, mental health issues, and communication difficulties
My intention in this paper is to provide a practical application of SFT in dealing with the family, which will include applying evidence-based interventions, using appropriate termination strategies, and assessing our needs. Also, in this paper, I will discuss the values and ethical conditions involved in working with families that could be battling the effects of generational trauma (Yehuda & Lehrnah, 2018). I aim to demonstrate how effective SFT is in promoting positive impact and changes in healing the family because of generational trauma. I highlight the importance of cultural sensitivity, collaboration, and empathy in the social profession.
Psychosocial History of the Chosen Family and the Social Problem They Face
The family under discussion is made up of a single mother, Lisa, and two children, Alex (12 years old) and Emily (8 years old). They have a history of generational trauma due to substance abuse, domestic violence, and poverty. The mother, Lisa, was emotionally and physically abused by her ex-husband but managed to escape the abusive relationship. Nevertheless, this domestic violence left her with depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem as she struggled to provide for her children emotionally and financially, affecting her ability to parent effectively.
Major Concepts of Solution-Focused Therapy and Appropriate Interventions
The SFT approach pays much attention to the client’s resources, strengths, and past achievements in finding solutions to their problem (Iveson, 2001). In this process, the therapist assists the client in setting a goal and identifies small steps to achieving these goals. The approach is brief, lasting between five to 20 sessions, not focusing on the client’s past trauma but the therapist and the client pay attention to the present and future possibilities (Chapelle & Tadros, 2021). SFT also uses scaling questions which are questions that ask clients to rate their improvements on a scale of 1-10 with their future expectations. This often helps the client focus on the positive improvements they have already achieved, which provides guidance for future progress.
Some of the interventions in SFT include a range of strategies and techniques to assist the client in achieving their goals. These techniques include miracle questions whereby the clients are requested to imagine how their lives would be if their problem were to be solved in a day (De Sharzer &Dolan, 2012). This helps the clients get clarity in their goals and identify ways to walk to achieve them. SFT also uses exceptions which involves assisting clients in identifying times when their problems were not present and exploring what would be different in such times. By focusing on this exception, clients are able to understand what is working well and strategize to expand on these achievements.
The SFT approach is appropriate for the family as it focuses on the strengths and resources of the family members rather than their problems. I will assist the members of the family in identifying small steps to achieve these goals by first seeking financial assistance, seeking employment, getting subsidized housing, and helping them find their strengths, such as Lisa leaving an abusive relationship and her ability to take care of her children despite the financial challenges. I will encourage them to use these strengths and resources to overcome their predicament.
Issues Concerning Social Work Values and Ethics:
In its application, solution-focused therapy (SFT) alerts various ethical considerations for social workers to consider when working with families. A key principle in social work is the attention given to the client’s self-determination, which means clients have the privilege to make their own decisions concerning their lives. This approach can bring balance with SFT, which primarily focuses on giving clients guidance and advice to assist in achieving their goals. It is hence important for social workers to bring balance in providing guidance and support with respecting their client’s autonomy and decisions.
Another key ethical consideration in SFT is the importance of cultural competence. Social workers must be careful with clients’ cultural values and backgrounds and strive to ensure that their interventions are respectful and appropriate. This process may require modifying some of the interventions and strategies in order to better align with the client’s practices and beliefs. It is important to understand that SFT lays emphasis on the importance of empowerment and collaboration with social work values of empowerment and social justice. Even so, it is critical for social workers to be aware of power dynamics existing during therapeutic relationships and work to see that clients are empowered to make better decisions within their interests.
Attaining confidentiality is a key ethical consideration in SFT, as in all forms of therapy. Social workers must protect clients’ privacy and only share information with others when necessary and appropriate. This includes obtaining clients’ written consent before sharing information or requesting clarifications and consultation from colleagues or supervisors to protect the client’s privacy.
Specific Methods, Techniques, and Interventions Applied in Practice:
In dealing with the family, I am deliberate in using these methods, techniques, and interventions of practice. First, I will implore the use of scaling questions to assist the family in measuring their progress in achieving their goals. I will request them to rate themselves how confident they perceive in achieving their goals on a scale of 1-10 and work with them in identifying strategies for moving up through the scale.
Secondly, through miracle question I will implore them to imagine what their life would look like if their matters at hand are suddenly solved in a day (De Sharzer & Dolan, 2012). This will assist them in identifying their goals as I assist to work towards achieving them. Thirdly, I will use exception questions to assist them in identifying times when their problems were not present or were less severe than the way it is. Through this intervention, they will begin to see strategies in managing their problems efficiently. Top of FormBottom of Form
The process of assessment, evidence-based interventions, and termination
The process of assessment, evidence-based interventions, and termination is a client-centered approach to social work practice which lays emphasis on collaboration, ongoing evaluation, and the use of evidence-based interventions to help clients achieve their goals (Kira, 2001). It is a crucial component of SFT and involves various steps.
One, assessment of client’s current state, weakness and strengths through gathering of information about the family’s history, expectations of therapy and their current problems. These assessment is conducted through the use of open-ended question, miracle questions and scaling questions (Franklin et al, 2001). The information gathered plays a crucial part in the development of the intervention plan. Setting Goals: After conducting the assessment, the social worker works with the family to identify their desired outcomes for therapy. The goals should be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). The goals should be focused on what the family wants to achieve, rather than on the problem.
Secondly developing a Solution-focused Intervention Plan where a social worker collaborates with the family in developing solution-focused intervention plan (Molnar & Desharzer, 1987). The plan must have basis son the family’s resources and strength and what they can do to achieve their goals rather than on what they cannot do. The plan must be adaptable to changing circumstances. Thirdly, developing evidence based interventions which are solution-focused interventions based on empirical research designed to help the family achieve their goals (O’ Connell, 2005). These interventions include miracle questions, scaling questions, coping questions, exception questions, and complimenting. As a social worker, I will focus on what is working well and not the problems to build our family strengths and resources.
Lastly, termination, which is the final stage of SFT and will require me to evaluate the family’s progress in achieving their goals (MacDonald, 2014). I will work with the family in reviewing the goals they had set earlier and determine if they have been able to achieve them. If the goals set earlier have been attained, I will assist them to develop a plan in order to maintain the progress achieved. This process of assessment, evidence-based interventions, and termination is a helpful component of Solution-Focused Therapy as it will help me to understand the family’s needs, implement evidence-based interventions, develop a solution focused intervention plan and evaluate the progress made.
Conclusion/Summary
In conclusion, Solution Focused Therapy is a useful approach in social work practice because it emphasizes the identification of solutions rather than focusing on problems. This paper discussed the application of Solution Focused Therapy with the family’s experience with generational trauma which had different manner of implications including substance abuse, financial difficulties, family conflict, and social problems.
The major concepts of Solution Focused Therapy including the focus on solutions, importance of goal-setting and scaling of questions were discussed and important interventions were identified. These interventions included miracle questions, exception questions, solution focused questions which were in turn used to assist Lisa’s family to identify solutions, achieve their desired outcomes and set their goals. Issues concerning social work ethics and values were also handled which included the importance of client self-determination, cultural competence, and use of evidence based practice.
In addition, the process of assessment, evidence-based interventions, and termination with resources recommended were given, which included the use of pre and post-treatment measures in tracking progress and the significance of giving clients resources in maintaining their progress after therapy. Solution Focused Therapy is a valuable tool in social work practice and in particularly in working with families facing multiple social problems. By laying emphasis on using evidence-based interventions and solutions, social workers will be able to assist families in overcoming challenges and be able to achieve their desired outcomes.
References
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