ABSTRACT
When teaching solution-oriented therapies to trainees I have found that one of the most easily grasped ideas is that of ‘well-formed’ goals (De Jong & Berg, 2002). Practitioners may differ in the precise way they use this term, but in general it refers to the process of gently but persistently shifting the conversation towards preferred, future-oriented actions. Typical characteristics of well-formed goals include a focus on observable actions, the presence of desirable behaviors rather than the absence of problems, a description in interactional terms, an emphasis on process (small steps or signs of change) rather than a final outcome, and a focus on actions that are within the client’s control. Negotiating well-formed goals is an ongoing process of elaboration and clarification rather than a specific phase or task (as in ‘goal setting’). Therapists have developed terms such as ‘goaling,’ ‘preferencing’ (Walter & Peller, 2000), and ‘goal clarification’ (Lipchik, 2002) to highlight this sense of unfolding process. Trainees tend to respond to these concepts and can learn quite quickly to use this group of skills in individual therapy.
