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This article considers how the Solution-Focused (SF) model, as developed by de Shazer and Berg, may be applied in facilitating groupwork. We look at our use of the model in facilitating a series of parent training courses, in a child psychiatric setting based on the Webster-Stratton program. This is a structured program that uses video vignettes to model parenting techniques, drawn mainly from a behavioral/social learning model. We detail how solution focused ideas have informed our group process within this model
The article concludes that the Solution-Focused approach can be readily applied in a groupwork educational setting such as parent training, and can be used in combination with other therapeutic models.
INTRODUCTION
Over half of the parents who present at child psychiatric clinics do so because of the disruptive and difficult-to-manage behavior of one or more of their children. Aside from therapy, these parents are looking for practical help on how to manage better and how to change their children's behaviors.
In responding to this need, we ran a series of parent training courses based on the Webster-Stratton program, which had been researched as effective in America in reducing children's behavioral problems (Webster-Stratton, Kolpacoff, & Hollinsworth, 1988). As Solution-Focused ideas had produced effective results in our individual work with families (Sharry, 1996) we were keen to transfer some of these insights into a groupwork educational setting, specifically parent training.
The course has been run several times since 1995 in a variety of child psychiatric settings in Dublin (child guidance clinics, special school, therapeutic pre-school, children's hospital). A wider research project involving all the groups is currently being conducted to measure the effectiveness of this program in an Irish context. Initial results of this research have shown positive increases in parents' confidence to manage their child's difficult behavior (Sharry, Connolly, & Fitzpatrick, 1995). This article is not concerned with this research, but with group process-and how SF ideas can be adapted to enhance this. It is based on the experience of the author in cofacilitating four of these groups.
This article (1) briefly outlines the principles of Solution-Focused Therapy (SF) and those of the parent training program; (2) details some SF ideas and techniques we have found useful in our facilitation of the parent...