Solution oriented, solution focused, and what do they have to do with couples?

Solution Oriented

According to Bill O’Hanlon, Solution Oriented/”Possibility Therapy” differs from SFBT in that it:

• Validates emotion • Avoids being rigidly formulaic • Considers social and political context

Possibility vs. SFBT

In my view, and considering the different history of the approaches, it would also be reasonable to say:

• Possibility therapy is less grounded in interaction, and more individual;

• Possibility therapy considers a change in thinking to be as desirable an outcome as a change in behavior;

• Possibility therapy is less influenced by MRI, and more by traditional Ericksonian hypnotherapy

To consider also…

• Equifinality (consider Gottman, motivational interviewing, appreciative inquiry, etc.)

• Ownership of ideas – a somewhat odd but important academic concept

• Role in history, publications/presentations as fodder for career or as career, team vs. individual approach

• Other similar sticking points: Michele Weiner Davis and SFBT; MDST (Howard Liddle) and Structural

• Happy examples: Yvonne Dolan, Eve Lipchik and Scott Miller with SFBT; Marion Lindblad-Goldner with Ecosystemic Structural; www.sfbta.org

Marital research and the Gottmans

The sugar coated version (be positive with each other, both accept influence, both work on communication) for the general public, but actual findings:• It’s men who need to accept influence;• It’s women who need to soften their start up; • Gender trumps sexual orientation – women and men

need to learn the same lessons in same sex relationships, but the problems therefore differ; • Minimum 5 to 1 ratio and the negative waterfall

What about this was a surprise to the field?

Just about everything! • Turns out all that active listening and

communication skills were not as useful as marital therapists thought;

• Turns out gender trumps sexual orientation (a particular surprise to heterosexual therapists);

• Astonishing emphasis on positives rather than problem resolution

Empirical support for certain models of marital therapy

• SFBT• Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy

Insoo Kim Berg doing couples work

• www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQBZlgmebwY

Pipe cleaner time!

• Single, not playing the game• Single, dating• Single, but in relationship• In committed relationship, engaged, living together• Married• Divorced or widowed • Each group will come up with a common problem;

the class will give you an MRI and SFBT approach to resolution