Solution Focused Therapy for the Helping Professions

This accessible guide to Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), an effective therapeutic approach which focuses on strengths and achievements, provides a practical introduction to what SFBT is and how to use it with clients. Barry Winbolt leads the reader through the principles, techniques and steps involved in the approach, including forming a productive working relationship with the client, using questions creatively, the effective use of language, and working collaboratively with the client in finding solutions. Case studies are included to demonstrate the ideas and techniques presented. This book will be invaluable to all those in the helping professions who are either already familiar with SFBT and want to improve their knowledge, or are looking for new and effective ways to communicate with and help the people they work with.

Table of Contents:
Introduction. Terminology. 1. The Helping Professions. 2. The Solution Focused Approach. 3. The Ingredients of Success. 4. The Key Assumptions of SFBT. 5. The Building Blocks of SFBT. 6. The Language of Change. 7. The Use of Language in Therapy. 8. Questions are Keys. 9. The First SFBT Session. 10. The Helping Relationship. Conclusion. Appendix: Putting It Together. References. Index.

About the Author :
Barry Winbolt MSc. is a therapist, mediator and consultant with more than 20 years' experience of advising and training people on how to improve their working relationships. He is head of Training and Clinical Development at PPC Worldwide in Oxford, and is a regular presenter at conferences and workshops in the UK and worldwide. He is also Chair of Conflict Resolution at the Institute for Family Therapy in London, and Programme Coordinator for the Masters and the Advanced Certificate in Conflict Resolution and Mediation Studies at Birkbeck College, University of London, UK.

Review :
Barry Winbolt's book gives a broad and very useful overview of the approach and is intended as a starting point for those new to the framework, such as myself, but also as a review for those individuals already familiar with the same... I certainly enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to anyone who would like an easily digestible introduction to this topic, which includes techniques that are readily applicable. This is a clear, non-evangelical account of how members of the helping professions can use the ideas and techniques of solution focused brief therapy (SFBT). .. The book is well written and full of realistic examples of client work. The transcripts of interviews give a helpful flavour of the tone and direction of solution focused work... The chapters on "Key Assumptions in SFBT" and "The Building Blocks of SFBT" are very accessible to someone new to the approach and give a good grounding for understanding the interventions described in the following chapters. I particularly enjoyed the two chapters on the power and centrality of language in therapeutic discourse. Wimbolt includes much material that helpers could immediately begin to introduce in their work, eg a comprehensive list of really useful question. He has some wise things to say about how newly enthused practitioners can introduce solution-focused work into their agencies without antagonising colleagues... There is much in this book that will be of interest and value to practitioners who wish to extend their repertoire without necessarily subscribing to the whole solution focused philosophy. Its inclusiveness is a welcome antidote to therapy tribalism. In his book, Winbolt (2011) clearly brings to light SFBT's framework for helping professionals as counsellors, social workers, psychiatrists, and clergy... Throughout the book, Winbolt (2011) reminds therapists the importance of owning strong listening skills and establishing client trust and rapport... In conclusion I recommend this book to therapists who work in limited time-framed counselling settings, who prefer structured and step-by-step techniques, and who counsel clients who have the ability to make cognitive shifts in focus.