Rates of recidivism for domestic 'batterers' following traditional treatment programs has lent urgency to finding alternative methods. This book describes a cutting-edge approach to treatment, 'solution-focused therapy', that focuses on holding offenders responsible for building solutions.

Every fifteen seconds someone commits a crime of domestic violence in the United States, and most violators will be court-mandated to receive group treatment. Outcome studies of traditional treatment programs (those with confrontational or educational approaches) indicate high rates of dropping out and low effectiveness, lending urgency to the need to find an alternative method. This book describes a cutting-edge treatment approach that creates effective, positive changes in domestic violence offenders. Solution-focused therapy focuses on holding offenders accountable and responsible for building solutions, rather than emphasizing their problems and deficits. By focusing on "solution-talk" instead of "problem-talk," clients are assisted in developing useful goals and solution behaviors that are then amplified, supported, and reinforced through a solution-building process. The book will be of great interest to professionals and graduate students in social work, psychology, and counseling.

Therapy is frequently miscast as requiring an enormous amount of time and financial commitment, but helpful, goal-oriented therapy can produce positive results after only a few sessions. By focusing on solutions instead of problems, SFBT asks clients to set concrete goals and to draw upon strengths in their lives that can help bring about the desired change for a preferred future.

"This book harkens a new era of intimate partner violence intervention, one in which we are free to experiment with alternative ways to end intimate partner abuse." -Julia C. Babcock, PhD Professor, University of Houston, TX (From the Foreword) "The book you hold in your hands offers a variety of approaches intended to help abusive men change by utilizing the strengths and assets they already possess." -Chris Huffine, PsyD Clinical Director Allies in Change Counseling Center Portland, OR (From the Foreword) Strengths-based batterer intervention programs serve as a unique approach to intimate partner violence (IPV), building on individual strengths-not deficits-to help IPV offenders end their abusive lifestyles. This book assists counselors in providing IPV offenders with the skills, knowledge, and resources they need to permanently change their offending behavior. The book discusses emerging theories and presents cutting-edge batterer intervention techniques that use positive psychology, such as solution-focused therapy, strengths-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, narrative therapy, and motivational interviewing. Key Features: Chapters are conveniently organized by therapeutic model, each discussing the latest research, core concepts, objectives, and applications Case studies, both real-life and hypothetical, presenting quotes from and dialogues with offenders undergoing treatment Counselor tools, including exercises, questions, and assessment strategies that build on the offenders' strengths and competencies Family violence professionals must recognize the power their clients have to utilize their strengths, skills, talents, desires, and dreams. It is from these strengths that clients will be able to transform themselves into the people they want to be.

An invaluable guide to the history, descriptions of practice strategies, and applications of SFBT! The Handbook of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy is a unique, comprehensive guide that assists clinicians, regardless of experience level, in learning and applying the concepts of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) to particular situations with clients. Noted experts discuss the therapy practices and various uses for the approach in detail, which focuses on encouraging clients to look at exceptions, times when the problem could have occurred and did not, and goals and future possibilities. A history of the practice model and its interventions is discussed, along with limitations, descriptions of practice strategies, applications to specific client populations, and clinical problems and concerns. This useful resource also includes an illustrative case study that uses the SFBT model. The Handbook of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy first lays a foundation of knowledge, providing chapters on the crucial assumptions and practices, history, and epistemology behind the approach. Further chapters use that basis to explain the application of the approach with several clinical issues and various populations, including couples, depression, domestic violence, schools, children, pastoral work, therapist burnout, and a few “outside therapy room” applications. Other chapters focus on the important issues in therapist training and supervision. Extensive references are provided at the end of each chapter. Topics discussed in the Handbook of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy include: assumptions within the SFBT tradition history of the SFBT approach epistemology SFBT with couples depression domestic violence offenders public schools children and young people SFBT in faith-based communities assessing and relieving burnout in mental health practice SFBT beyond the therapy room supervision of training possible limitations, misunderstandings, and misuses of SFBT a tribute to the late Steven de Shazer, co-founder of the SFBT approach The Handbook of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy is an invaluable reference for all types of therapists, including psychologists, counselors, social workers, and family therapists at any level of experience, including students, trainees, and experienced therapists.

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.

Solution-Focused Play Therapy is an essential text that blends the process of play therapy with solution-focused therapy. With a focus on child strengths and resources, this book identifies key concepts and principles in solution-focused play therapy (SFPT). The author provides neurobiological and developmental support for SFPT and guidance on how practitioners can transition from using a non-directive approach to a more directive and activity-based approach based on the developmental needs of the child. Chapters describe the 12 basic skills needed for employing this approach with children of all ages and their families. Harnessing a strengths-oriented approach, the author presents expressive ways to use key SFPT techniques, including the miracle question, scaling, finding exceptions, and end-of-session feedback. Clinicians will come away from the book with a suite of interventions, strategies, handouts, and forms that can be employed with children of all ages and their families, from strength-based assessment and treatment planning to the final celebration session.