Youth2Youth - Terre des Hommes Schweiz

Problem solving approach versus solutionfocused approach“Two prisoners look out through barsOne sees mudAnd the other sees stars”The SF approach is different to the problem solving approach. Here aresome points about how they differ.Using a problem solving approach:1. Gather as much information as possible about: the difficulties,mistakes, causes, feelings, and abnormal behaviour.2. The findings are assessed and analysed (this is called problemanalysis).3. Based on the assessed findings the person in charge comes up withinterventions, which might have a positive influence.4. The person in charge (supervisor, group leader, therapist etc.) givesthe order about what to do. The competence for the solution iswithin the counsellor or youth leader who has the specific knowledge.The client/youth has only his or her intuition. The client/groupis advised.Using the solution focused approach:1. Ask what is important in the client’s life.2. Ask what the client can do well. Find the client’s resources.3. Ask about the goal.4. Ask about little past or current successes that are related to thegoals. Find positive exceptions.5. Ask about the possibility of repeating these successful steps.6. Ask about the first/ or next little step in order to reach the goal.(scaling question)7. Ask the client to go and try this out.8. Ask the client next time when you see her/him what has workedwell. Compliment him or her of what went well. Get as many detailsas possible how the client did, and what went well.14