People often comment that there seems to be some magic in Solution Focused working; the client simply describes being a preferred version of themselves, then they seem to magically transform into that version! Everything we regard as science was once thought of as magic. The technology at work in your mobile phone is all explainable … Continue reading It’s A Kind Of Magic
1: Thanks for seeing me at such short notice, I’ve just been so stressed 2: No problem. What difference are you hoping this’ll make? 1: Just to help me cope with it all. I’ve got so much going on and it’s really affecting my mood. I just can’t find the motivation. Even when I do … Continue reading As Yourself
Talking about our problems doesn't help. That's a myth. Talking about our hopes and achievements despite, or in response to, our problems helps. We've all found ourselves sitting in a group of people bonding through a shared moan about politics, societal issues and the state of the world; 'putting the world to rights'. Think about … Continue reading Myth Busting: Problem Talk
I’m trying something a little different this time around; a short video blog (or ‘vlog’). There’s a transcript and further discussion below. This also marks the launch of my new YouTube channel, here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI_dwh-vpxOznEI5IvVFH6Q/featured It is intended as an introductory piece beginning to explain the solution focused approach, or at least my personal … Continue reading A Signal In The Distance, To Whom It May Concern*
There's this popular idea that 1 in 4 people suffer with 'mental health problems', which has led to the instinct to try to identify which amongst us is that 1, so that we might help them. Looking for signs of 'mental health problems', then, has become the go to starting point in 'mental health awareness', and 'mental … Continue reading 1 in 4 (All You Need Is Love)
"Look into your mind’s eye see what you can see, there's hundreds of people like you and me" (Hawkwind; 'Hurry On Sundown') The town I grew up in was renowned for its Friday night street brawls, conspicuous uneven distribution of wealth and availability of illegal drugs. It was once described in a national newspaper, albeit … Continue reading Look Into Your Mind’s Eye
I recently learnt that the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) discourage counsellors from working with people experiencing psychosis unless they are working in a specialist setting, and have specific supervision and experience of working with this 'client group'. This is described by them as ‘working within our competence’. This intrigues me. I'm not … Continue reading A Red Herring
Within the realms of hypothetical possibility, no matter how unlikely, and within your sphere of influence, taking into account any constraints you have to contend with, what would you most like to achieve? Suppose that you somehow achieve it at some point. What difference would it make to you and others? What difference would it … Continue reading Now and Then
This post touches on the same themes I addressed in my previous post 'A Matter of Life or Death'. I hope it reflects how my thinking has developed. Asking a client "what's been better?" is a typical way for a solution focused practitioner to begin a follow up meeting. I received a powerful reminder of … Continue reading What’s Been Better?
The following poem is the result of a collaboration between me and my Dad, Tony Ward. His poetry book, 'Unravelling Sussex' is available from the publisher here and from other booksellers. He recently won best poem by a primary carer in a National Memory Day competition, sponsored by The Alzheimer's Society, for his poem 'What … Continue reading I’m Putting Myself Back Together
Keep Calm and Solution Focused 