| There are several key Solution Focus interviewing skills | | | | can understand why you lost your temper." Affirming |
| that are indispensable in moving individuals from | | | | and exploring helpee's perception is a major part of |
| problem focus to solution focus. | | | | Solution Focus interviewing. |
| Exploration | | | | Amplifying "solution talk" |
| Exploring the meaning helpee is giving to words, | | | | Solution talk addresses what aspects of their life |
| situation, experience. Solution Focus helper provides | | | | helpee want different and the possibility for making |
| direction; helps the helpee uncover concrete and | | | | these changes. Though most helpees' cling to the |
| relevant feelings, experiences, and behaviors. Solution | | | | proclivity to do problem talk, if redirected, they will |
| Focus helpers do not interpret meaning for the helpee | | | | engage in solution talk. The helper's role is to know |
| but allow the helpee to interpret their meaning for us. | | | | when they have returned to solution talk and to |
| We rely on the helpee's expertise and therefore ask | | | | encourage as much solution details (amplification) as |
| questions such as: "what does that mean to you?" or | | | | possible. The key to engaging helpees' in solution talk is |
| "what is happening that is telling you nobody likes you?" | | | | to be keenly attuned to what they would like to be |
| Open-ended Questioning | | | | different as they discuss their problem talk (troubles, |
| Well thought out and relevant questions that cannot be | | | | problems, etc). Inherent is all discussions of problems is |
| answered with a yes or no. For example, you might | | | | the desire for change or success. These are the hints |
| ask, "Suppose things did get better for you, what | | | | of possibilities helpees' give during conversation even |
| would need to be different?" | | | | though they may not be aware of it. |
| Summarizing | | | | Normalizing |
| Helper brings together in a summary way relevant | | | | Solution Focus understands that when confronting |
| verbalizations; a restatement of helpee's thoughts, | | | | difficulties and problems, people often lose perspective. |
| actions, or feelings. It strings together an overview of | | | | Overwhelmed and overcome by the pain and tension |
| the message. | | | | associated with the problematic issues, individuals often |
| Paraphrasing | | | | feel as though they have lost control and the situation |
| Helper gives back to the person the overall essence | | | | unsolvable. Normalizing involves responding to problem |
| of what has just been said by shortening and clarifying | | | | talk by wondering with clients if perhaps their difficulties |
| helpee's comments. Paraphrasing indicates to the | | | | are not within the range of ordinary problems of |
| helpee that he/she has been heard. | | | | everyday living. For example, a parishioner of mine |
| Silence | | | | talked about the troubles she was having with her 13 |
| Helper is tolerant of helpee's periods of silences | | | | year old daughter. She feels her daughter is growing |
| without feeling a need to "jump in" with talk. By | | | | up too fast and is becoming defiant to house rules. |
| remaining silent, you provide them with the opportunity | | | | The parishioner was asked, "Do you think what she is |
| to process an answer. If your question was thought | | | | doing is normal behavior for 13 years olds?" Another |
| provoking, helpees will need time to think about their | | | | way the question could have been posed: "sounds like |
| response. Try to refrain from answering the question | | | | you daughter may be displaying typical teenage |
| yourself or leading the helpee with an answer. If the | | | | behavior, what do you think?" What is of primary |
| silence becomes unproductive, you may utilize another | | | | importance too is to listen to client or helpee's |
| Solution Focus skill. | | | | response to your normalizing question. You will be |
| Complimenting | | | | listening for clues about what helpee want different. |
| Helper gives a direct - positive evaluation in response | | | | Normalization is a useful Solution Focus tool as it offers |
| to helpee. Qualities such as resiliency, determination, | | | | individuals an opportunity to detoxify their difficulties. |
| sense of humor and so forth, are helpees' strengths. | | | | Returning Focus to Client |
| Noticing these can have significant affect on helpee's | | | | Many people, when discussing their issues, focus on |
| perception of the situation they are articulating. For | | | | what they wish others would do differently. It is as |
| example, "In light of all that is going on with you, I'm | | | | though they are powerless and subject to the whim of |
| amazed by your ability to still get up every morning | | | | others. In order for helpees' to move from a state of |
| and get your children ready for school. I am not sure I | | | | powerlessness to empowerment, Solution Focus |
| could do it and I really admire your inner strength." | | | | counseling help them return the spotlight on |
| Helper may give indirect compliments as well. Indirect | | | | themselves. They will be encouraged to shift their |
| compliments is a question that implies something | | | | focus from what they do not appreciate about others |
| positive about the helpee's such as, "How have you | | | | and focus on what they would like to have happen |
| managed working a full time job and provide good | | | | differently. This is what Shazer calls the change from |
| parenting for your children at the same time?" Any | | | | problem talk to solution talk. |
| form of helper using compliments is to capitalize on | | | | Reframing |
| helpee's self compliments. For example, a helpee may | | | | This is a powerful change stratagem used to assist |
| say, "I quit smoking because I got smart." The helper, | | | | individuals in shifting the meaning they make of their |
| recognizing the compliment as a sign of progress will | | | | experience of events, people, relationships and |
| reinforce it with questions such as, "Are you more | | | | circumstances. The interpretive "frame" people put |
| aware of your inner strength?" Understand that the | | | | around their experience determines the meaning it has |
| helper is not just throwing out compliments for the | | | | for them. Helping them to alter the meaning or value of |
| sake of compliments, but compliments are | | | | something, "reframes" context. If people experiencing |
| reality-based. That is, it is derived from what helpee | | | | difficulty can shift their frame from a negative, closed |
| has communicated to you. It reinforces in the helpee's | | | | perspective, they have the possibility of moving away |
| mind what is important to them. | | | | from their positions and opening up new possibilities for |
| Affirmations | | | | resolution. For example, a woman demeans her |
| In Solution Focus, affirming helpee perception is crucial | | | | partner by relating his negative qualities (frame of |
| to the helping process. It is the helper's ability to convey | | | | reference). Of course, he has some positives that she |
| understanding of helpee's feelings, thoughts, actions | | | | is overlooking. Solution Focus systematically |
| and life experience. Affirmation of perceptions can be | | | | encourages discussion around these positives thereby |
| done through gestures (nods, smiles, uh-huh, etc.), or | | | | engaging the woman in a discussion of the partner |
| verbalizations: "From what you have shared with me, I | | | | from a different context (reframing the reference). |