Solution Focused Approaches With Individuals, Couples and Families
Presented by Jill Ceccolini, MSW, RSW & Barry McClatchey, MSW, RSW
May 4 - 5th (2009)
(9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.)
Registration Postmarked Prior to April 13, 2009: $250.00
Registration Postmarked After to April 13, 2009: $285.00
About the Presenters
Jill Ceccolini, MSW, RSW has been utilizing a collaborative, strengths-based approach in her clinical practice and in her work as an educator and trainer of counsellors and therapists for 20 years. She is a full time clinician, working with individuals, couples and families. Jill holds a Master of Social Work degree from Dalhousie University and a Bachelor of Education degree from St. Mary’s University in Halifax. Since 1996, Jill has been teaching a strengths-based approach to counselling at Dalhousie University, through the School of Social Work degree programs and through the Continuing Education Program.
Barry McClatchey, MSW, RSW has almost 20 years of experience as a clinical therapist, counsellor and trainer. Barry completed his Bachelor of Social Work degree at Ryerson Polytechnical University in Toronto, Ontario. He received his MSW degree from the Maritime School of Social Work, Dalhousie University. Barry has utilized a solution-focused approach in his work for over 13 years and has completed training in a variety of locations in North America.
Workshop Summary
This two-day seminar about solution focused therapy (SFT) will offer participants a balance between the principles and philosophy of this strengths-based, collaborative approach to working with people and the practical applications of this perspective in a variety of settings. Practitioners of SFT are interested in learning about clients’ desires for change and co-constructing change to move clients towards their preferred futures. The work is exciting and radically different from more traditional counselling and therapy approaches in that it relies on clients’ knowledge and experience about their own lives as required expertise in the change process. Clients who have experienced solution-focused therapy often talk about the thought provoking questions that they are asked in sessions and are surprised by how quickly they are able to make the changes that they seek. Practitioners of solution-focused therapy often comment on their dynamic sessions with clients which are filled with hope, energy and even laughter.
The facilitators will use a variety of methods to invite participants’ learning including case examples, small group work to practice applications, video examples of solution-focused therapy and exercises designed to provide experiential learning.
Objectives
Participants will:
•Understand the relationship between the principles of solution-focused therapy and the applications in practice
•Discuss and consider the ways in which client/counsellor relationship is foundational to facilitating client change
•Explore ways to develop stronger relationships with clients in practice
•Be familiar with the types of questions and interventions that assist people to articulate their ideas about change in their lives and their preferred futures
•Consider the application of solution-focused approaches in a variety of human service delivery settings
•Know the components of solution-focused therapy
•Explore ways to incorporate outcome measures that have clinical benefit to clients and are consistent with the principles of solution-focused therapy
Agenda
Day 1
•Constructing the language of solution-focused therapy: principles and ideas
•The role of the client/counsellor relationship in facilitating change
•Building solutions with clients: a departure from problem solving
•Applying “what works” in practice: video clips and practice exercises
Day 2
•Skills and interventions used in solution-focused therapy: how to do it
•The components of a solution focused session: how to know if you are practicing solution focused therapy
•Video demonstration
•Outcomes: How to know that your work with clients is helpful to your clients
•Incorporating outcome measures into your everyday practice
