Solution oriented, solution focused, and what do they have to do with couples?
Solution Oriented
According to Bill O’Hanlon, Solution Oriented/”Possibility Therapy” differs from SFBT in that it:
• Validates emotion • Avoids being rigidly formulaic • Considers social and political context
Possibility vs. SFBT
In my view, and considering the different history of the approaches, it would also be reasonable to say:
• Possibility therapy is less grounded in interaction, and more individual;
• Possibility therapy considers a change in thinking to be as desirable an outcome as a change in behavior;
• Possibility therapy is less influenced by MRI, and more by traditional Ericksonian hypnotherapy
To consider also…
• Equifinality (consider Gottman, motivational interviewing, appreciative inquiry, etc.)
• Ownership of ideas – a somewhat odd but important academic concept
• Role in history, publications/presentations as fodder for career or as career, team vs. individual approach
• Other similar sticking points: Michele Weiner Davis and SFBT; MDST (Howard Liddle) and Structural
• Happy examples: Yvonne Dolan, Eve Lipchik and Scott Miller with SFBT; Marion Lindblad-Goldner with Ecosystemic Structural; www.sfbta.org
Marital research and the Gottmans
The sugar coated version (be positive with each other, both accept influence, both work on communication) for the general public, but actual findings:• It’s men who need to accept influence;• It’s women who need to soften their start up; • Gender trumps sexual orientation – women and men
need to learn the same lessons in same sex relationships, but the problems therefore differ; • Minimum 5 to 1 ratio and the negative waterfall
What about this was a surprise to the field?
Just about everything! • Turns out all that active listening and
communication skills were not as useful as marital therapists thought;
• Turns out gender trumps sexual orientation (a particular surprise to heterosexual therapists);
• Astonishing emphasis on positives rather than problem resolution
Empirical support for certain models of marital therapy
• SFBT• Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy
Insoo Kim Berg doing couples work
• www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQBZlgmebwY
Pipe cleaner time!
• Single, not playing the game• Single, dating• Single, but in relationship• In committed relationship, engaged, living together• Married• Divorced or widowed • Each group will come up with a common problem;
the class will give you an MRI and SFBT approach to resolution