Activity 1: Essay

Instruction: Describe narrative and solution focused counseling in terms of their main premise.  

Answer:

The need for an alternative approach to therapy was recognized as mental health
practitioners began to observe the amount of energy, time, money, and other resources spent
discussing and analyzing the challenges revealed during the therapy process, while the issues
originally bringing an individual to therapy continued to have a negative impact. SFBT
developed into the fast, effective treatment modality it is today over approximately three
decades, and it continues to evolve and change in order to meet the needs of those in therapy.
SFBT, which aims to help people experiencing difficulty find tools they can use immediately to
manage symptoms and cope with challenges, is grounded in the belief that although individuals
may already have the skills to create change in their lives, they often need help identifying and
developing those skills. While there are a number of people in therapy and practitioners who
report the effectiveness of solution-focused brief therapy, some concerns have, over the years,
presented themselves. One major criticism of the modality is that its quick, goal-oriented nature
may not allow therapists the necessary time to empathize with what people in treatment are
experiencing. As such, those in therapy may feel misunderstood if the therapist is not meeting
them on their emotional level.