Solution oriented, solution focused, and what do they have to do with couples?

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