Brief Counseling That Works 3/e

Preface Overview of the Contents What's New in This Edition Who Can Benefit From This Book Acknowledgments Publisher's Acknowledgments About the Author 1. Counseling in Schools and Other Settings: Problems and Solutions Origins of Solution-Focused Brief Counseling Differences and Similarities Effectiveness Core "Rules" Solution-Focused Assumptions Additional Guiding Concepts Summary Practice Exercise 2. Setting Goals Opening the First Meeting: Establishing Rapport and Explaining the Process Developing a Positive Goal The Miracle Question "What Else" Questions Establishing Well-Developed Goals: An Overview Summary Practice Exercises 3. Discovering and Constructing Solutions Discovering Unrecognized Solutions: Instances of Success Empowering Clients Through Recognition of Their Resources Scaling a Baseline and Progress Flagging the Minefield: Identifying and Overcoming Obstacles Concluding the Initial Session With a Message Summary Practice Exercise 4. Connecting the Pieces Components of the First Session Case Study With Pedro: Session One Summary Practice Exercises 5. Abbreviated SFBC Session Explaining the Process Determine What the Client Wants to Achieve Use Scaling to Determine Clients' Views of Their Present Situation What's the Highest Number the Client Has Ever Been? The Message A Case of an Abbreviated SFBC Session Summary 6. Conducting Subsequent Sessions Subsequent Sessions: Getting Started Components of Second and Subsequent Sessions Assessing Whether Further Counseling is Needed Writing a Message Tools for Second and Subsequent Sessions: Flow Chart and Note Sheet Subsequent Sessions With Pedro Summary 7. Working With Reluctant Clients and Challenging Situations Helping Involuntary Clients Become Customers for Counseling SFBC With Students Mandated for Counseling in Lieu of Disciplinary Action Turning Difficult Situations Into Workable Goals Summary 8. Expanding Applications of Solution-Focused Concepts 10-Second "Counseling" Solution-Focused Counseling Referral Form Use of Puppets in SFBC Use of Sand Trays in SFBC Solution-Focused Group Counseling Classroom Counseling Using SFBC Methods Solution-Focused Parent-Teacher Conferences Solution-Focused Guided Imagery Summary Final Thoughts Appendix A: Counseling Session With Kasey: A Practice Exercise Appendix B: Solution-Focused Guided Imagery Appendix C: Practice Detailing a Non-Specific Goal References Index

"Simple yet spectacular, my students and I LOVE Brief Counseling that Works. It presents a user-friendly, time-efficient, and very effective approach to counseling school-aged youth (and adults)!" -- Bradley T. Erford, Professor "Every once in a while I come upon a text that is so clear, so explicit, and so practical that I hear students recommending it to other counseling students who are not in the class. Gerald Sklare's Brief Counseling That Works: A Solution-Focused Approach for School Counselors and Administrators is one such book. I have used the first two editions in my secondary school internship course for several years, and have had universally positive feedback from the interns. Even though they have all been introduced to SFBC in their theories and group classes and many have applied it in to their work in practicum, they are excited about how it helps them with "Connecting the Pieces". While I appreciate the ways that the book addresses the application of SFBC to the school setting, I feel that it is a valuable resource for anyone working with children and adolescents regardless of the setting." -- Virginia S. Dansby, Professor "The solution-focused counseling approach is teaching us that strengths and resources are already available and dormant within students, parents, and the school. This book is a highly readable and practical guide for harnessing the power of problem-free talk and exception-seeking to support and empower our students." -- Stephanos P. Vassilopoulos, Assistant Professor