Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, PALMERSTON NORTH

The Solution-Focused Brief Therapy approach immediately appeals to many practitioners because it is considered conceptually very simple; however it is easy to underestimate the discipline that the approach requires in order to be used effectively. Practitioners rapidly discover that SIMPLE does not necessarily mean EASY! It is often joked that "there are only three questions" in Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, but those three questions demand a focus and a way of listening that is very different from the way most of us were trained.

This three-day intensive will do more than just introduce participants to Solution-Focused ideas; it will IMMERSE them in it! This is a "hands-on" course, grounded in the reality of peoples' work with clients. The course will discuss the major components or tools of the Solution-Focused approach in detail. Case examples and video examples will be used to demonstrate the various ideas and techniques in detail. These will not be "video highlights"; we will examine the process of counselling sessions, including bits that didn't work so well. Exercises, group discussions and role-plays will allow participants to experience the ideas and to experiment in a friendly environment.

The course is open to anyone but will be particularly suited to:

• People who have had some exposure to Solution-Focused ideas and would benefit from more systematic training.
• People who have attended an introductory seminar in the past and who wish to pursue more focused training.
• People who are interested and willing to explore a therapeutic approach that offers real hope to clients but some uncertainty to practitioners.