No abstract

This article explores the ‘Kids’ Skills’ and ‘Mission Possible’ models of solution‐focused brief therapy (SFBT) with children and adolescents. Both models are presented, compared, revised, and expanded with further ideas and therapeutic tools in three crucial areas: 1. Future direction, 2. Resources, and 3. Initiation of change (action). Future direction is expanded by preferred future, skill(s), and goal(s). Resources is expanded by ‘small talk,’ progress and confidence scales, exceptions, metaphors, and engagement of supporters. Initiation of change (action) goes beyond practicing the skill to experiments or steps towards the goal. This gives more flexibility to therapists using SFBT with their clients. All this is illustrated with case examples.

No abstract

Long-term unemployment, one of the challenges social workers face, produces a variety of non-monetary and social consequences. The helping professionals understand that interventions towards unemployed clients do not cover just the pure fact of their unemployment but that a holistic approach to the clients’ living situations is needed. This paper aims to promote well-being while implementing solution-focused coaching in working with unemployed clients in social work practice. The Reteaming coaching model is supported by two detailed case studies describing three key areas covered in the Reteaming process. Working with clients in both cases contributed to various elements of the client’s psychological well-being: positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and achievement. The Reteaming coaching model can be used effectively as a suitable structured approach, mainly used in strength-based social work.

Non-expert stance or “not-knowing” position plays important role in postmodern/ poststructuralist therapies (Tarragona, 2008) and at the same time many misunderstandings and potential pitfalls for therapeutic practice arose with this concept. This paper examines “knowledge” in therapeutic conversations from the perspective of one of the postmodern therapies – Solution-Focused Brief Therapy. After an introduction to the Solution-Focused Brief Therapy and its principles, attention is given to process and content related expertise and the solution-focused therapist’s positioning in conversations. The next section describes a model, called the Pie of Inspiration, which allows for reflecting on different sources of knowledge and inviting them into the solution-focused therapeutic conversation. The application of the model is illustrated through some case examples and an activity for working with children which is called Klondike.