ABSTRACT
Solution-focused (SF) therapy offers an approach for working with children and adolescents that gives them control in a world where they have little control over their lives. This chapter provides an overview of basic tenets of solution-focused therapy and a general overview of the process as it emerges. Solution-focused therapy begins with building a relationship with the client and proceeds to “digging for treasure” or noticing and uncovering client strengths, resiliencies, and exceptions to the problem. The therapist uses curiosity questions, relationship questions, and compliments to amplify strengths. The next stage of the process involves a collaborative interchange between client and therapist as the client details a miracle day or what the client wants from therapy. Scaling questions provide a way to mark progress and set smaller goals. The therapist ends the session with a compliment, bridge, and suggestion. Follow-up questions focus on exceptions, amplifying and reinforcing exceptions and successes, and repeating the process. Creative and playful approaches are interwoven into the client–therapist exchange to make therapy more amenable to children and adolescents. The author provides examples of how SF therapy includes these approaches as well as principles for combining SF and play therapies.
