Suchergebnisse

AbstractRather than dwelling on the conflict, solution‐focused mediation asks: What would you prefer instead of the conflict? The focus is on the desired outcome: the future with a difference. Clients are considered capable of formulating their own goal and of devising solutions. The expertise of the mediator lies in asking questions that help clients in this respect and that motivate clients to change. This article demonstrates that concept and the methodology differ significantly from other types of mediation. Conversations become increasingly positive and shorter, ensuring that solution‐focused mediation is also cost‐effective.

AbstractSolution‐focused coaching (SFC) represents a short‐term, future‐focused, and person‐directed therapeutic approach that helps people focus on solutions rather than problems. Thirteen cases of SFC of staff dealing with people with severe and moderate intellectual disabilities (S/MID) are described. In all 13 cases, the progress toward the team goal, proactive thinking of staff, and the quality of the relationship (QOR) between staff and people with S/MID were measured directly before SFC, directly after SFC, and 6 weeks after SFC. After SFC, progress toward the team goal was found in seven out of 13 teams, improvement of proactive thinking was found in 5/10 teams and improvement of the QOR was found in 7/13 teams. With regard to individual staff members, improvement of proactive thinking was found in 12/34 staff members and improvement of the QOR was found in 22/42 staff members. The authors note that SFC stimulates dealing with support problems in a behavioral, proactive way and that SFC can be a useful approach to build useful relationships. The findings are in line with results of earlier research on the value of solution‐focused brief therapy applied to carers (parents or professionals) of people with ID. Future investigation of SFC, preferably using a randomized controlled design, could test the hypothesis that SFC can increase self‐efficacy and proactive thinking in teams, can positively alter staff's perceptions of people with ID, and that teams find it a useful approach.

AbstractSolution‐focused brief therapy (SFBT) is a form of behavior therapy that focuses on evoking desired behavior rather than on the existing problem behavior. To illustrate the use of this form of therapy, the authors undertook a study of 10 case studies of applications of SFBT with people with a mild intellectual disability (MID). For all 10 cases, before SFBT, after SFBT, and during a follow‐up after 6 weeks, the following measurements were taken: assessment of quality of life and assessment of maladaptive behavior as well as goal attainment according to people with MID and according to carers. It was found that SFBT treatments contributed to improvements in psychological functioning and decreases in maladaptive behavior. In addition, achievement of goal attainments were noted according to both people with MID and their carers. The positive changes evident after SFBT proved sustainable during follow‐up. Treatment strategies and therapeutic alliances employed were usually assessed as positive by the participants. Although the study had limitations due to the lack of a control group and the small number of cases, the fact that several case studies showed positive treatments results did indicate the effectiveness of SFBT for people with MID.

AbstractSolution‐Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) is a short‐term, goal‐focused, and client‐directed therapeutic approach that helps the client construct solutions rather than dwell on problems. SFBT has rarely been used with clients with intellectual disabilities (ID). The authors discuss how this relatively new form of therapy in an adapted form can be made suitable for clients with ID. The assumptions of this therapeutic approach, the types of problems and settings addressed by SFBT, and a description of the interventions used in SFBT are considered. Indications and contraindications for SFBT and empirical data on the effectiveness of the therapy are discussed both with regard to clients with or absent ID. The authors suggest that tailoring SFBT to clients with ID can be done by using simple language, modified interventions, and inserting other adaptations into the therapy process. In practice, even though clinical practice experience with SFBT has shown great promise, empirical research into SFBT applications with clients with ID is lacking. Research is thus needed to demonstrate whether SFBT with this target group can yield sufficiently effective results and to what extent SFBT is valued by clients and their carers.