An accomplished therapist and social worker in Denver, Colorado, William Strong regularly applies Solution Focused Therapy to adult clients, as well as families, couples, and children in need of counseling. Both well-established therapy techniques, Solution Focused Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy share certain basic similarities. Broadly speaking, both forms of therapy focus on helping the client identify and cultivate solutions while decreasing the emphasis on negative aspects of the client’s life. By combining aspects of both therapies, a powerful tool is created to help clients achieve their goals.
A form of talk therapy, Solution Focused Therapy emphasizes the importance of the present and the future as opposed to dwelling on problems of the past. This basic emphasis encourages clients to focus on creating and achieving new life goals. When the client achieves a healthy direction to pursue, the therapist supports the client in new pursuits. For instance, the therapist may offer practical guidance in developing more supportive social networks. Important life changes that can be achieved through effective Solution Focused Therapy include higher self-confidence and stronger relationships.
A basic challenge with Solution Focused Therapy is that people naturally tend to focus on past problems. Therapists applying Solution Focused Therapy may find it difficult to keep clients focused on the present and future solutions. However, with the addition of a Cognitive Behavioral Approach, this difficulty can be overcome. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy directly facilitates changes in the distorted, negative thinking patterns that may lead to a preoccupation with past problems. Through effective application of both therapies, clients can learn to focus on the positive elements of their life while gaining the new confidence to achieve their life goals.
