Solution-Focused Theory Application: Case Analysis
Introduction
The case under analysis involves a client, Ann, who suffers from depression and anxiety out of her recent happenings of job loss, sole parenting, and lack of support from family and friends. Solution-focused theory concepts will be applied in analyzing Ann’s psychological and mental situation as well as the approach for conducting counseling on her.
What concepts of the theory make it the most appropriate for the client in the case study?
According to (Murdock, 2015), solution-focused theory emphasizes more on a client’s present and future goals and expectations in order to find quicker resolutions establish a happier life. In our case, Ann undergoes anxiety, depression, and stress; making her to worry about life and become hopeless. Solution-focused approach enables a counselor to advance the client’s quality for life since she still suffers the effects of anxiety, stress, and depression disorders. (Murdock, 2015). Our client, Ann requires coaching and questioning in order to get the rightful solutions to her present state of psychological, emotional, and social discomfort; these approaches are evident under solution-focused therapy. (Murdock, 2015). Also under this approach, the counselor will encourage Ann to develop in developing a vision for her future.
Why did you choose this theory over the others?
Solution-focused approach suits more in Ann’s case than the feminist and narrative theory. This theory has no focus on the past events, but rather focuses more on the present situation and the future goals of a client. (Iveson, 2002). In solution-focused approach, the counselor questions the client to envision her preferred future goals and thereby, working with the therapist, the client begins to work towards accomplishing these set goals. (Saul, 2019). Unlike the feminist theory whose focus is more on women, the application of solution-focused therapy is diverse and suits all genders. (Murdock, 2015). Also, the narrative therapy is based more on unproven concepts and facts unlike solution-focused therapy where the counselor and the client work in full conformity to the counseling goals.
What will be the goals of counseling and what intervention strategies are used to accomplish those goals?
The main goal of solution-focused therapy is “solution building”. (Murdock, 2015). In this case, solution-focused therapy will be used to assist the client in managing the symptoms and coping with challenges that she is currently experiencing. Also, the other goal is the counselor encouraging the client to imagine her desired future and then collaboratively work on developing a series of techniques that will assist her in realizing it.
To ensure that these objectives get accomplished, the intervention strategies of questioning, the “Do one thing different” approach, and the presupposing change strategy will be used. (Saul, 2019). The questioning approach will help the counselor provoke discussion and thinking by the client. Under….
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Is the theory designed for short- or long-term counseling?
What will be the counselor’s role with this client?
What is the client’s role in counseling?
For what population(s) is this theory most appropriate? How does this theory address the social and cultural needs of the client?
Kids and adult people with emotional, social, and psychological disturbances struggle with depression, loneliness, anxiety, and stress. Being a short-term theory of counseling, solution-focused therapy is appropriate for children and adult people. (Murdock, 2015). Kids under depression and anxiety experience low self-esteem, and thus benefit from this approach. Similarly, adult client benefit from the approach as they always becomes problem solvers.
In this case, the solution-focused approach appropriately addresses Ann’s unique social-cultural needs. Ann’s social needs include lack of family and friends support and having to rear her baby alone without her husband’s social support. Her cultural gap is inability to maintain eye contact with the counselor while filling the form. As per (Iveson, 2002), the solution-focused approach properly addresses the symptoms of these needs, and helps the patient in forming positive goals for her future social and cultural needs.
What additional information might be helpful to know about this case?
What may be a risk in using this approach?
One risk of solution-focused approach is its quick nature which may disallow a counselor sufficient time of empathizing with the client’s experience in the course of treatment. (Saul, 2019). As a result, the client could potentially feel misunderstood if the counselor fails to meet her on her level of emotion. The other risk of this approach is that it discards and ignores any information deemed vital by other treatment modalities. (Iveson, 2002).
Conclusion
Solution-focused therapy was applied in this case to analyze Ann’s social and psychological problem and how a counselor uses this approach in treating a client. The counseling goals have also been explained as well as the rightful intervention strategies in order to accomplish these goals. Also, the counselor and client roles have been discussed in reference to solution-focused theory.
References
Iveson, C. (2002). Solution-focused brief therapy. Advances in Psychiatric Treatment, 8(2), 149-156. doi:10.1192/apt.8.2.149
Murdock, N. L. (2015). Theories of counseling and psychotherapy: A case approach. Upper Saddle River, NJ : Pearson Education.
Saul, M. (2019). Solution-Focused Brief Therapy. Pyscholog Today, 1-17.