Topic: Differences in Theories
From the New Directions in Family Therapy section of the Reading & Study material from the previous
module/week, select 2 of the following models addressed: Solution-Focused Therapy, Collaborative
Therapy, or Narrative Therapy. Discuss at least 2 differences between the two therapies with some detail.
Note that postmodernism is a way of thinking about therapies and systems, not a formal therapy.
Similarly, many feel that the collaborative approach and team approach used by social constructionists
are techniques used in family therapy.
When you develop your reply, select the model that was not discussed in your fellow group member’s
thread and bring this approach into play. How does it differ and how it is similar to the therapies
discussed? You may want to use outside sources for this reply post.
Your thread must be at least 500 words. In addition to the thread, you will prepare a reply of at least 400
words to 1 classmate’s thread.
Your thread is due by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Thursday of Module/Week 8, and your reply is due by 11:59
p.m. (ET) on Friday of the same module/week.
Cap.14. Social Construction Models II: Narrative Therapy
Cap.13. Social Construction Models I: Solution-Focused Therapy and Collaborative Therapy
The term constructivism was created by postmodern thinkers in order to highlight the
subjective construction of reality. (Goldenberg et al., 2017, p. 347). Postmodern thinkers
emphasize that our beliefs about the world - what represents the reality - are social inventions
and not a reflection of the world. Through the help of the language people connect each other
and build their shared views of the reality (Goldenberg et al., 2017, p.346).
Postmodern social construction therapies reject the idea that there is an objective truth
observable to all. Instead, they focus on the subjective perceptions of the truth or reality that each
client presents (Goldenberg et al., 2017, p.345). The three main types of postmodern social
construction therapies are: Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy and Collaborative
Therapy.
I chose to compare the Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT) and the Collaborative Therapy
(CT) for the purpose of learning in more details about these two interesting approaches.
Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT) is a short-term approach that focuses on creating
solutions to problems rather than evaluating the root causes of those problems. Solution-focused
therapy emphasizes aiding clients in seeking solutions rather than searching for explanations
about their miseries. (Goldenberg, p.368).
Collaborative Therapy (CT) mainly solves problems through talk and collaboration. This
approach offers no special techniques but rather offers a viewpoint or egalitarian attitude in the
search for new options (Goldenberg, p.368).
However, despite of the fact that both types of therapy have similar characteristics, there
are some distinct differences. Therefore, CT place importance on power, and value client-
therapist relationships (Goldenberg et al., 2017, p.357). By contrast, SFT does not accent the
relationship. Appears so that Collaborative model is more about attitude than technique or
clinical methodology (Goldenberg, et al., p.362).
Collaborative therapists embrace the idea that the clients are the experts on their lives and
the therapist is in a not-knowing position regarding it, while SFT use their expertise in strategies
toward the goals. Also, collaborative therapists view themselves as walking alongside their client
toward an unknown destination of new meaning and action, making their clients feel valued and
heard. By contrast, Solution-Focused therapists overtly guide their clients toward solution-talk
and a specific behavioral goal.
Solution-Focused therapist systematically ask questions such as miracle questions,
expectation-finding questions, and scaling questions, and make comments as if moving the
conversation in a particular direction (Goldenberg et al., 2017, p.355). By contrast, a
Collaborative therapist might be described as wandering here and there (Goldenberg et al., 2017,
p.362).
For a collaborative therapist there is no such thing as an objective problem. Problems are
considered part of everyday living and they are not considered the product of pathological
individuals or dysfunctional families (Goldenberg et al., 2017, p.362). Problems from a Solution-
Focused perspective are related to language: the way that people talk about and ascribe meaning
to what they call problems (Goldenberg et al., 2017, p.353).
Lastly but not last, SFT’s sessions are structured in an elaborated five stage protocol such
as co-constructing the problem and a goal, identifying and amplifying exceptions, assigning
tasks, evaluating the effectiveness, and lastly reevaluating the problems and the goals
(Goldenberg et al., 2017,p.357). By contrast, CT, is less structured, and the therapist let the
client leading the direction of each session.
References
Goldenberg, I., Stanton, M., & Goldenberg, H. (2017). Family therapy: An overview (9th ed.).
Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole Publishing Co. ISBN: 9781305092969
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
