Assignment #1

Module 1: Literature Review

BUS 653
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Literature Review: Becoming Solution-Focused Forced in Brief Therapy: Remembering

Something Important We Already Knew

This article discussed the dangers of “solution-forced” psychotherapy caused by

therapists who are mis-interpreting solution-focused literature. The idea of solution-focused

therapy is to only engage in conversation that looks to solve a problem and focus on strict goal

setting techniques. The psychiatrist uses the approach of solution-oriented question during

evaluations and focuses on finding a solution in solution-focused therapy. Unfortunately,

focusing only on the end result of finding a solution can lead to the therapist being impatient and,

in a hurry, to find a quick fix which could result in the therapist minimize and eve n trivialize the

clients experience of the problem. The author gave an example of a patient who suffered a

traumatic molestation in her early teens and the therapist asked questions such as “How will

know when the abuse will no longer be affecting you and you no longer need to come to

therapy?” “What will be the first sign that the past is behind you?” “What will others notice

about you when the abuse is part of the past?”, which was clearly not the support that the patient

needed at this time.

In a managed care-setting, therapists or physicians often are in search of a solution or a

resolution to the problem. Of course resolving the patients problems is the end goal, there can not

be a time limit or expectations placed on when the patient will be “over” things. Managed care-

setting have taught us that we occasionally practice solution-forced therapy, instead of solution

focused. Americans who have mental health coverage through some form of a managed care

provider may be subject to experience solution-forced therapy. This article highlighted the

dangers of such practice and the negative impacts it has on quality of care.
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Reference:

Nylund, D., & Corsiglia, V. (2019). Becoming Solution-Focused Forced in Brief Therapy:

Remembering Something Important We Already Knew. Journal of Systemic Therapies,

38(2), 81–87. https://doi-org.ezproxy.umary.edu/10.1521/jsyt.2019.38.2.81