A Solution Oriented ApproachA Solution Oriented ApproachIn Educational SettingsIn Educational Settings

The aim of this series of training The aim of this series of training sessions is to give an introduction to sessions is to give an introduction to the principles of solution oriented the principles of solution oriented working and to its practice in working and to its practice in educational settings.educational settings.

Training SessionsTraining Sessions

1.1. Introducing A Solution Oriented Introducing A Solution Oriented Approach and The PrinciplesApproach and The Principles

2.2. SO TechniquesSO Techniques3.3. Key Features of a SO ConversationKey Features of a SO Conversation4.4. SO MeetingsSO Meetings5.5. Using a SO Approach in Education Using a SO Approach in Education 6.6. Practice and Next Steps Practice and Next Steps

Session 1 June 2011Session 1 June 2011 33

Introducing Introducing A SolutionA Solution Oriented Oriented

ApproachApproach

Session 1Session 1

Aims of Session OneAims of Session One

Provide a background to solution Provide a background to solution oriented thinking and practiceoriented thinking and practice

To become familiar with the 10 To become familiar with the 10 principles of solution oriented principles of solution oriented thinking and practice.thinking and practice.

OriginsOrigins

Developed in 1980s by Steve de Developed in 1980s by Steve de Shazer and Insoo Berg from listening Shazer and Insoo Berg from listening to clients.to clients.

Used in family therapy and mental Used in family therapy and mental health settings.health settings.

Now used more widely in schools, Now used more widely in schools, social work and management. social work and management.

What Is Being Solution Oriented What Is Being Solution Oriented All About?All About?

A positive philosophy of thinking, A positive philosophy of thinking, being and doing..being and doing..

Being Optimistic ..Being Optimistic .. About the way you look at a problem About the way you look at a problem

really affecting your ability to deal really affecting your ability to deal with it..with it..

Uses the power of imagination to Uses the power of imagination to generate impetus for change..generate impetus for change..

A Solution Oriented ApproachA Solution Oriented Approach

Concentrates on developing solutions Concentrates on developing solutions rather than examining problems.rather than examining problems.

Shifts from problem talk, thinking Shifts from problem talk, thinking and description to solution oriented and description to solution oriented talk, thinking and description.talk, thinking and description.

Aims to develop solution behaviours Aims to develop solution behaviours and to envisage a better future.and to envisage a better future.

Solution Oriented ApproachSolution Oriented Approach

fits well with shift towards fits well with shift towards empowerment and partnership where empowerment and partnership where solutions are developed together,solutions are developed together,

is positive, forward looking and is positive, forward looking and practical,practical,

can be used within a variety of can be used within a variety of contexts within education (e.g. contexts within education (e.g. individual discussion, review individual discussion, review meetings, staff meetings).meetings, staff meetings).

Key Differences From Problem Key Differences From Problem Focused ApproachesFocused Approaches

A Solution Oriented Approach

Problem based approaches

PAST PROBLEM FUTUREGOALS

““The solution oriented approach The solution oriented approach is a way of being, not just a is a way of being, not just a collection of tools and collection of tools and techniques. If you believe in the techniques. If you believe in the principles the actions will follow.” principles the actions will follow.”

Solution Oriented PrinciplesSolution Oriented Principles

1.1. Listen to the person, listen for the Listen to the person, listen for the possibilitypossibility

2.2. People have the necessary resources People have the necessary resources to make changes [Sycol]to make changes [Sycol]

3.3. Everyone has their own ways of Everyone has their own ways of solving problemssolving problems

4.4. No sign-up no change. Collaboration No sign-up no change. Collaboration enhances change[Sycol]enhances change[Sycol]

5.5. Language shapes and moulds how we Language shapes and moulds how we make sense of the worldmake sense of the world

Solution Oriented PrinciplesSolution Oriented Principles

6. A focus on future possibilities and 6. A focus on future possibilities and solutions enhances change [Sycol]solutions enhances change [Sycol]

7. There are always exceptions to the 7. There are always exceptions to the problemproblem

8. Small changes can lead to bigger changes8. Small changes can lead to bigger changes

9. If it works, do more of it; if it doesn’t 9. If it works, do more of it; if it doesn’t work, do something different [Sycol]work, do something different [Sycol]

10. The problem is the problem; not the 10. The problem is the problem; not the person person

[Sycol][Sycol]

PRINCIPLE 1:PRINCIPLE 1:LISTEN TO THE PERSON; LISTEN FOR LISTEN TO THE PERSON; LISTEN FOR

THE POSSIBILITYTHE POSSIBILITY

Listening to the person's Listening to the person's feelingsfeelings, , experiences, and behaviourexperiences, and behaviour from from their perspectivetheir perspective

Not imposingNot imposing your own values or your own values or perspective, and perspective, and hearing hearing possibilitiespossibilities, , which may be which may be developed laterdeveloped later

PRINCIPLE 2:PRINCIPLE 2:PEOPLE HAVE THE NECESSARY PEOPLE HAVE THE NECESSARY RESOURCES TO MAKE CHANGESRESOURCES TO MAKE CHANGES

Each individual has a range of Each individual has a range of competenciescompetencies which are adequate which are adequate to deal with the issues they faceto deal with the issues they face

Help the individual to Help the individual to discover discover their resourcestheir resources -don't try to 'help' -don't try to 'help' themthem with a solution with a solution

PRINCIPLE 3:PRINCIPLE 3: EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN WAY OF EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN WAY OF

SOLVING PROBLEMSSOLVING PROBLEMS

Every human being is Every human being is uniqueunique and and has their own way of dealing with has their own way of dealing with issues issues

Try to Try to mobilise theirmobilise their plans and plans and options.options.

PRINCIPLE 4:PRINCIPLE 4:NO SIGN-UP, NO CHANGE; NO SIGN-UP, NO CHANGE;

COLLABORATION ENHANCES CHANGECOLLABORATION ENHANCES CHANGE

Engaging and involvingEngaging and involving all those all those involved in any potential move involved in any potential move towards a solution,towards a solution,

allowing allowing full discussion and full discussion and debatedebate of all involved about of all involved about possibilities,possibilities,

making ‘concretemaking ‘concrete'' what each what each individual has agreed to do and individual has agreed to do and establishing a means of creating a establishing a means of creating a formal contract or agreement.formal contract or agreement.

PRINCIPLE 5:PRINCIPLE 5: LANGUAGE MOULDS AND SHAPES HOW LANGUAGE MOULDS AND SHAPES HOW

WE MAKE SENSE OF THE WORLDWE MAKE SENSE OF THE WORLD

Emphasising the Emphasising the positivepositive,, the the possibilities,possibilities, and being and being ''''future future oriented"oriented"

ReframingReframing issues in “possible” issues in “possible” language - what it will be like once a language - what it will be like once a "solution" has been achieved"solution" has been achieved

PRINCIPLE 6:PRINCIPLE 6: A FOCUS ON FUTURE POSSIBILITIES A FOCUS ON FUTURE POSSIBILITIES

ENHANCES CHANGEENHANCES CHANGE

Using language which focuses on Using language which focuses on the the futurefuture, on , on changechange, and leaves , and leaves the the problem in the pastproblem in the past behind behind

PRINCIPLE 7:PRINCIPLE 7: THERE ARE ALWAYS EXCEPTIONS TO THERE ARE ALWAYS EXCEPTIONS TO

THE PROBLEMTHE PROBLEM

Listening out for Listening out for always, every, always, every, never, all the time..…never, all the time..…,,querying querying absolute statements and focusing absolute statements and focusing

Building on Building on exceptions,exceptions, situations situations and times when and times when things went wellthings went well

PRINCIPLE 8:PRINCIPLE 8: SMALL CHANGES CAN LEAD TO BIGGER SMALL CHANGES CAN LEAD TO BIGGER

CHANGESCHANGES

Not being overwhelmedNot being overwhelmed by the by the scale of the issues involvedscale of the issues involved

Focusing on any way which Focusing on any way which moves moves matters forward,matters forward, however small it however small it might seemmight seem

Converting Converting anyany potential move potential move forward forward to the 'concrete' to the 'concrete'

PRINCIPLE 9: PRINCIPLE 9: IF IT WORKS DO MORE OF IT; IF IT IF IT WORKS DO MORE OF IT; IF IT

DOESN’T WORK, TRY SOMETHING ELSEDOESN’T WORK, TRY SOMETHING ELSE

ChallengingChallenging 'what we usually do‘ 'what we usually do‘ critically critically

Examining the effectivenessExamining the effectiveness of of current practice, and current practice, and

Imagining other alternativesImagining other alternatives

PRINCIPLE 10:PRINCIPLE 10: THE PROBLEM IS THE PROBLEM, NOT THE PROBLEM IS THE PROBLEM, NOT

THE PERSONTHE PERSON

Using language which:Using language which:– focuses on the focuses on the problemproblem– separates it from separates it from the individualthe individual

who 'has' the problem who 'has' the problem Focusing on how to Focusing on how to resolve resolve

matters/issuesmatters/issues rather than rather than cure/change/improvecure/change/improve/ the / the 'individual''individual'

ACTIVITY 1(2)ACTIVITY 1(2)Discussion Discussion In pairs or threes, select one of the In pairs or threes, select one of the

principles.principles. Can you think of when you would use Can you think of when you would use

it?it? Are you already doing this?Are you already doing this? How could this principle influence / How could this principle influence /

improve your practice?improve your practice?

ACTIVITY 1(3)ACTIVITY 1(3)

DiscussionDiscussion On a scale of 1-10 rate yourself/your On a scale of 1-10 rate yourself/your

school on each of the 10 principlesschool on each of the 10 principles Which 3 principles are the most Which 3 principles are the most

challenging at present?challenging at present? Which 3 principles do you feel you Which 3 principles do you feel you

are already good at?are already good at?

Solution Oriented Approach Solution Oriented Approach TechniquesTechniques

Listening skills – Listen, accept acknowledgeLooking for ExceptionsBuilding on what worksHighlighting progress (Scaling)Envisaging a better future

Solution Oriented Approaches – Handbook 2012 (http://tinyurl.com/soahb)