What is a common goal of solution-focused therapy?

• A. Unpacking childhood trauma
• B. Fostering dependency on the therapist
• C. Identifying and enhancing existing solutions
• D. Discovering underlying psychological issues

Answer: (C)

A common goal of solution-focused therapy is to identify and enhance existing solutions. This therapeutic approach emphasizes a brief and goal-directed framework where a therapist collaborates with clients to recognize their strengths, resources, and past successes. Instead of delving deeply into the origins of problems, solution-focused therapy encourages clients to envision their desired outcomes and build upon the strategies they have already used to cope with challenges.

In this context, the therapist helps clients articulate clear goals and facilitates discussions that steer toward developing concrete steps that lead to solutions, fostering a sense of empowerment and agency. This approach is particularly effective in various settings because it prioritizes actionable insights and encourages clients to take an active role in their own change process, celebrating progress, no matter how small.

Other choices, such as unpacking childhood trauma or discovering underlying psychological issues, align more closely with therapeutic modalities that focus on exploring the past and addressing deeper-rooted psychological concerns. These approaches typically engage in more extensive analysis rather than focusing on practical solutions in the present, which distinguishes the goals of solution-focused therapy. Additionally, fostering dependency on the therapist contradicts the fundamental goal of empowering clients to become self-sufficient problem solvers.