Nursing is about growth, yet it spends so much time focusing on disease and entropy. While the nursing role is expanding into advanced practice roles, and twenty-first century nursing is almost unrecognisable compared to its nineteenth century roots, at the heart of nursing is growth. Sometimes called “caring”, growth requires nurturing, and, while it is difficult to define, without it nurses are merely medical technicians. In the context of nursing, health is about change, change from a less healthy state to a more healthy state and the nurse’s role is to promote that change whenever possible. However, change is difficult; we are creatures of habit, afraid of change, and preferring the illusion of safety with the “devil we know rather than the devil we don’t know”. However, when someone is ready to change, they have already grown. This book combines the author’s twenty-five years of experience in Solution Focused Interactions and empirical evidence derived from his PhD research to argue that Solution Focused Interactions provide a means for nurses, in all domains of nursing and midwifery, to provide care that promotes growth and change in the people they work with, while restoring and maintaining their enthusiasm for practice. This book serves as an eminently practical introduction to how Solution Focused Interactions can be used across nursing practice, making use of transcripts and case studies to illustrate the ways in which nurses can help their patients to grow and change, while also growing and changing themselves.

What is Solution-Focused Therapy? Solution Focused Therapy (SFT) is a unique, goal-directed therapy aimed at helping clients regain autonomy by determining and achieving their own goals. Solution focused therapists encourage clients to focus on solutions, not problems, and help clients effectively plan how to reach their goals. Unlike other therapies, SFT holds an abiding belief in clients' abilities to know what is best for them, rather than have a therapist tell them. Why this book? This book not only provides an overview of the Solution Focused therapy model, its basic tenets, and theories; it also presents intimate interviews with expert practitioners-all of whom use SFT in their own practice. To this end, the book offers a wealth of insight into the theory and practice of SFT, to help practitioners decide whether SFT is right for them and their clients. These experts offer details of their apprehensions, goals, breakthroughs, and overall experiences with the therapy. The team of expert contributors includes Eve Lipchik, Yvonne Dolan, Alasdair Macdonald, Thorana Nelson, and many more. Questions the experts address include: How did you discover that SFT was the model that fit your clients' needs? What characteristics of this model drew you towards it? How has SFT impacted your personal life? What is it about SFT that makes it so effective? What are your favorite cases and how did they affect your work as a therapist?

Introduces an innovative approach to nursing practice. Solution-focused nursing is a practical philosophy which emphasizes change at three levels: the client, nursing and society. It teaches three principles: to be cautious of dominant paradigms, to focus not only on problems but solutions too, and to work with and for clients rather than on them.

“Blundo and Simon have successfully outlined how a solution-focused perspective can be a powerful tool for case managers. Their understanding and presentation is based upon practice scenarios that are real and applied...They clearly demonstrate the impact of ‘thinking and language’ and the importance of building a collaborative relationship with clients. Their work challenges the traditional theory-driven interventions that focus on problems and arrive at a diagnosis . They encourage a ‘shift’ to a co-constructive partnership that requires a practitioner to respect that clients are ‘experts of their own lives’...They provide a clear step-wise discussion of techniques and strategies that can be employed working with individuals and families in case management settings. This book is a must read.” -Lawrence T. Force, PhD. LCSW-R Professor of Psychology, Mount Saint Mary College, Newburgh, NY From the Foreword Solution-focused practice is a paradigm that stresses client abilities, strengths, and individual goals rather than disability. Written by a team of educator/practitioners noted for their expertise in solution-focused therapy, this “how-to” text for social work, counseling, and psychology students guides current and future case managers in learning this strengths-based, collaborative approach to case management. It discusses both the philosophical basis for solution-focused casework and demonstrates how it is ideally suited for the case management process. The book is based on teaching materials the authors have developed and used in their classes and workshops with undergraduate and graduate students and professionals. The text incorporates new research and theoretical developments in solution-focused therapy as well as actual practice scenarios demonstrating the process of building a collaborative relationship with individual clients and families. Replete with strategies and tools for practicing solution-focused case management, the text describes such essential skills as identifying goals, monitoring progress, working with other agencies, and transitioning out of treatment. It discusses issues related to ethical practice and presents strategies for self-care. Additionally, the book addresses diversity and social justice and their relationships to solution-focused practice. Student exercises help to reinforce knowledge. The text will assist case managers in a variety of settings—hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, community-based mental health agencies, schools, prisons, court systems, and shelters for the homeless and victims of domestic violence—to partner with their clients towards finding strengths-based and solution-focused approaches to resolving issues in a positive way. Key Features: Authored by noted experts in solution-focused education and practice Facilitates a reframing of casework and case management around client strengths and resources Provides specific case examples that allow readers to troubleshoot and apply solution-focused principles to practice Includes student exercises throughout the book

Solution Focused Anxiety Management provides the clinician with evidence-based techniques to help clients manage anxiety. Cognitive behavioral and strategic tools, acceptance-based ideas, and mindfulness are introduced from a solution-focused perspective and tailored to client strengths and preferences. The book presents the conceptual foundation, methods, and attitudes of a solution-focused approach. Case examples illustrate how to transform anxiety into the "Four Cs" (courage, coping, appropriate caution and choice). Readers learn how to utilize solution focused anxiety management in single-session, brief, and intermittent therapy as well as in a class setting. The book additionally includes all materials needed for teaching solution focused anxiety management in a four-session psychoeducational class: complete instructor notes, learner readings, and companion online materials. Special Features: - Focuses on what works in anxiety management - Presents evidenced based techniques from a solution-focused perspective - Increases effectiveness by utilizing client strengths and preferences - Describes applications in single session, brief, and intermittent therapy - Supplies forms and worksheets for the therapist to use in practice - Features clinically rich case examples - Supplements text with online companion material - Suitable for use as a treatment manual, reference, or course text - Offers a solution-focused anxiety treatment - Focuses on anxiety management, not "elimination" - Translates the program to individual therapy - Presents patient exercises and case examples - Includes a guide for teaching/learning this therapeutic technique

This second edition of Solution-focused Therapy remains the most accessible yet comprehensive case-based introduction to the history, theory, research and practice of solution-focused therapy (SFT) within mental health care and beyond. Drawing on contemporary research and the author′s own extensive experience, the fully revised and updated new edition includes: " discussion of recent developments relevant to research and training " a new chapter on challenges to SFT and the integration of SFT with other therapeutic approaches " extended discussion on ethical issues " topical exploration of the application of SFT with patients with personality disorders and dementias " contemporary research on solution-focused coaching and approaches to organizational change " new case material. This highly practical guide should be on the desk of every student or trainee studying this strongly supported, growing approach. It is also a useful resource for practitioners wanting to update their core skills and knowledge.

Introduces a Powerful New Brief Therapy Approach This groundbreaking book is the first to provide a comprehensive model for effectively blending the two main postmodern brief therapy approaches: solution-focused and narrative therapies. It harnesses the power of both models—the strengths-based, problem-solving approach of SFT and the value-honoring and re-descriptive approach of Narrative Therapy--to offer brief, effective help to clients that builds on their strengths and abilities to envision and craft preferred outcomes. Authored by a leading trainer, teacher, and practitioner in the field, the book provides an overview of the history of both models and outlines their differences, similarities, limitations and strengths. It then demonstrates how to blend these two approaches in working with such issues as trauma, addictions, grief, relationship issues, family therapy and mood issues. Each concern is illustrated with a case study from practice with individual adults, adolescents, children, and families. Useful client dialogue and forms are included to help the clinician guide clients in practice. Each chapter concludes with a summary describing and reinforcing the principles of the topic and a personal exercise so the reader can experience the approach first hand. Key Features: Describes how two popular postmodern therapy models are combined to create a powerful new therapeutic approach—the first book to do so Includes case studies reflecting the model’s use with individual adults, children, adolescents, and families Provides supporting dialogue and forms for practitioners Authored by a leading figure in SFT and its application in a variety of setting Presents an overview of the history of both models