Postmodern: Narrative & Solution-Focused

Question 2

Miracle & Solution Generating Questions

(Solution-Focused Therapy)

Answer 2

Serves to behaviorally identify what the solution will look like (not what won’t be happening). Other solution-generating questions include:

• Crystal ball questions
• Magic wand questions
• Time machine questions

Question 3

Do One Thing Different

(Solution-Focused Therapy)

Answer 3

An intervention used in SFT in which the therapist assigns small steps the client will take to facilitate change between sessions.

Question 4

Formula First Session Task

(Solution-Focused Therapy)

Answer 4

Typically used in the first session with all clients, regardless of the issue, to increase hope and motivation for change. Clients instructed to notice what they DON’T want to change over the next week.

Question 5

Identifying Exceptions

(Solution-Focused Therapy)

Answer 5

Assessing for previous solutions that DID work. Often difficult because clients are less aware of when the problem is not a problem.

Question 6

Client Strengths

(Solution-Focused Therapy)

Answer 6

Key practice in solution-based therapies. Strengths include personal, relational, financial, social, or spiritual resources such as family support, positive relationships, and religious faith.

Question 7

Assessing Client Motivation

(Solution-Focused Therapy)

Answer 7

Three types of client motivation:

• Visitor: Someone else brought them to therapy and wants them to change
• Complainant: Wants change but primarily sees others needing to change for the issue to be resolved.
• Customer for Change: Wants change and is willing to work to make it happen

Question 8

Assume Change

(Solution-Focused Therapy)

Answer 8

Optimistically assume this IS happening and CAN happen.

Question 9

Positive Goal Setting

(Solution-Focused Therapy)

Answer 9

Focus on what the client will do rather than on symptom reduction. Observable, specific behavioral indicators of desired change.

Question 10

Small Steps

(Solution-Focused Therapy)

Answer 10

Interventions target small steps toward solutions.

Question 11

Scaling Questions

Answer 11

Invite the client to measure progress weekly; used to assess strengths/solutions, set goals, design homework, track progress, and manage crises.

On a scale from 1-10 where would you rate your progress with 10 being the best possible outcome?

Question 12

Miracle Question

(Solution-Focused Therapy)

Answer 12

Serves to conceptualize and assess goals in solution-based therapy.

Example: “Suppose tonight, while you slept, a miracle occurred. When you awake tomorrow, what would be some of the things you would notice that would tell you life had suddenly gotten better?”

Question 13

Dominant Discourses

(Narrative Therapy)

Answer 13

Broad societal stories and expectations about how life should be; coordinate social behavior.

Question 14

Local Discourses

(Narrative Therapy)

Answer 14

Occur in our heads, closer relationships, and marginalized (not mainstream) communities.

Question 15

Unique Outcomes/Sparkling Events

(Narrative Therapy)

Answer 15

Exceptions to problem-saturated narrative; times when the problem is less present or absent.

Question 16

Solidifying

(Narrative Therapy)

Answer 16

Strengthening preferred stories and identities by having them witnessed by significant others.

Question 17

Problem-Saturated Story

(Narrative Therapy)

Answer 17

Story where the problem dominates and the client is a victim; impacts identity, health, relationships, and others.

Question 18

Narrative Therapy Treatment Phases

Answer 18

• Phase 1: Meeting the Person Apart from Problem
• Phase 2: Listening for dominant discourse effects
• Phase 3: Separating Persons from Problems (Externalizing)
• Phase 4: Enacting Preferred Narratives
• Phase 5: Solidifying preferred stories and identities

Question 19

Externalizing Questions & Conversations

(Narrative Therapy)

Answer 19

• Refer to problem as separate entity, e.g., ‘When Depression visits.’
• Includes Relative Influence Questioning.

Question 20

Map in Landscape of Action and Identity/Consciousness

(Narrative Therapy)

Answer 20

Technique for harnessing unique outcomes:

1. Identify unique outcome
2. Ensure it is preferred
3. Map in landscape of action
4. Map in landscape of identity/consciousness.

Question 21

Scaffolding Conversations

(Narrative Therapy)

Answer 21

Gradually move clients from familiar to new ways of addressing problems.

Question 22

Letters and Certificates

(Narrative Therapy)

Answer 22

Used to reinforce preferred narratives and identities. Certificates often used with children to highlight positive changes.

Question 23

Meet Person Apart from Problem

(Narrative Therapy)

Answer 23

Getting to know clients as separate from their problems.

Question 24

Enacting Preferred Narrative

(Narrative Therapy)

Answer 24

Identifying new ways to relate to problems that reduce their negative effects and strengthen identity.

Question 25

Externalizing

(Narrative Therapy)

Answer 25

Separating the person from the problem, requiring a sincere belief in separation.

Question 26

Relative Influence Questioning | (Narrative Therapy)

Answer 26

Early externalization method: * mapping influence of problem * mapping influence of persons

Question 27

Re-Membering Conversations | (Narrative Therapy)

Answer 27

Develops **multivoiced identity**, making sense of life in coherent ways through associations, not a singular core self.

Question 28

Thickening Descriptions | (Narrative Therapy)

Answer 28

Counseling process **adds strands of identity to problem-saturated stories** rather than replacing them.

Question 29

Philosophical Stance & Social Constructionism | (Collaborative Therapy)

Answer 29

Therapist approach grounded in **social constructionist assumptions** that we construct realities in relationship.

Question 30

Not Knowing & Curiosity | (Collaborative Therapy)

Answer 30

Therapist chooses to know with clients rather than assume expertise.

Question 31

Client as Expert | (Collaborative Therapy)

Answer 31

Client is the **expert in their own life**; therapist is expert in process.

Question 32

Problem-Organizing/Problem-Dissolving Systems | (Collaborative Therapy)

Answer 32

Therapy systems **form around problem identification** and dissolve when the problem is resolved.

Question 33

Appropriately Unusual Comments | (Collaborative Therapy)

Answer 33

Comments **fit within client's worldview** while inviting curiosity and new perspectives. Not too "usual" or "unusual."

Question 34

Being Public | (Collaborative Therapy)

Answer 34

Therapist **shares inner dialogue carefully**, avoiding hierarchy over the client. Applies to report writing, diagnosis, as well as in-session conversations.

Question 35

Collaborative Process | (Collaborative Therapy)

Answer 35

Two-way dialogue where therapist and client **co-create new understandings**. Avoid scripted techniques.

Question 36

Conversational Questions | (Collaborative Therapy)

Answer 36

Questions arise **naturally** in dialogue, not preplanned or scripted. Based in client's world view rather than theoretical questions or therapist perspective.

Question 37

Reflecting Teams | (Collaborative Therapy)

Answer 37

**Group of therapists observe and openly discuss** with client listening; introduces multiple perspectives.

Question 38

Social Construction | (Collaborative Therapy)

Answer 38

Client's **meanings and narratives** related to problem and life context.

Question 39

Non-Expert | (Collaborative Therapy)

Answer 39

Therapist as non-expert, co-constructor of meaning (co-author/editor).

Question 40

Curiosity | (Collaborative Therapy)

Answer 40

Clients join in therapist's curiosity to co-explore problems and solutions.

Question 41

Dominant v. Local Discourses | (Narrative Therapy)

Answer 41

* **Dominant discourses**: cultural stories of how life should be (e.g., marriage, success). * **Local discourses**: personal/close relationship stories, often marginalized.

Question 42

Not Knowing/Not Assuming | (Collaborative Therapy)

Answer 42

Therapist asks seemingly **trivial questions** to open unexplored perspectives.