NEXT PUBLIC COURSE IN 2012: Our next public course for 2012 will be updated soon - please see our Training & Events page

A Solution Focused Approach to Recovery:

The training is practice-focused and focuses on initiating strengths-based discussions, often "opportunistic".  Changing the “prescriptive” role of the professional as the expert on the client’s life and instead encourages the client to connect with their own, unique coping and managing strategies in order to do more of what works and to identify what needs to change in order to bring about healthy outcomes
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The client knows what recovery is. The client knows when they will be in recovery. The client is, as always, the expert.

Many clients seeking help for their addiction are seldom asked about times when they keep themselves well? how they do that? and what life will be like for them once they are well again? Often the client is only asked about trigger points which ironically can further reinforce their own view that recovery is a long way off.

When we speak with GPs and clinical professionals in the field, they often suggest that they believe the client must address their addictive triggers in the first instance and our response is "to have a conversation, at least, about what recovery will look like; the small things that will be different in their life, and most importantly - if the pathology of the addiction has to be traced -then perhaps also tracing exceptions and strengths in the past and a curiosity about tomorrow can do no harm".

Many people experiencing drug and alcohol problems often become isolated and develop negative views of themselves and others - the language and visuals of the Solution Focused Approach helps workers to introduce an element of doubt into this negative and destructive view.

By eliciting "exceptions" to the presenting problem, i.e. "times when they have kept well and not allowed the addiction to take control" - conversations can focus on "how they did that?"; "what strategy worked for them?"; "what were the signs that things were slipping back?" and indeed "how they kept themselves safe from slipping back?". If the client has no recall about "exceptions" in the past, then a viewing of the future is also a useful conversation.

Questions like this are effective in highlighting strengths, resources and any small exceptionis where the journey towards a renewed recovery needs to start in order that the worker and client can jointly harness these strategies to help in the work towards recovery.

A Solution Focused Approach training day with the staff of CASCADE, a Drug & Alcohol unit in Berkshire.

Our Solution Focused Approach to Recovery training includes positive ways of engaging clients who have become stuck and raises staff awareness of how language used in 1:1 and Group sessions can help clients achieve change. The approach is also used extensively with entry and discharge sessions with clients and their partners as part of rehabilitative work. The ethos of the Approach is to work collaboratively with the client to help them identify small, attainable and salient goals towards recovery and sustaining well-being..

Included in the training are the well evaluated and successful resources: The Change Balloon; The Silent Session; The Scaling Walk; The Relationship Map as well as our Groupwork and 1:1 exercises from our ownExamine, Repair & Move On Approach (Murphy '93).

To book a 1-3 day inhouse course please contact us on Tel: 0208 542 9310 or on the office mobile 07779 242 289 or email: info@brief-therapy-uk.com

The Consultancy also provide a new course: Drugs & the Law: what the new changes will mean in practice for staff

In May 2008 the government announced that Cannabis is to be reclassified from a Class C drug to Class B. It is important for those involved in policing or who are supervising any institution or who work directly with service-users on drug issues, to understand the repercussions of this reclassification.

This is just one of several important topics covered in this course.

Who should attend?
DAT staff, Front line workers dealing with drugs and the law governing drugs e.g Police, Security, Bail Hostels; D&A Rehabilitation Units; Schools; Colleges and Institutions.

Aims: The course seeks to provide the delegate with an overview of the law governing the misuse of drugs and an understanding of how the criminal justice system deals with such issues.

Objectives: By the end of this course the delegate will be able to:-
Explain the law governing drugs in the UK (Misuse of Drugs Act 1971)
Demonstrate an understanding of the ever changing classification of drugs
Explain their legal obligations in relation to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
Identify to whom the legal obligations apply
Demonstrate an awareness of where the legal obligations apply
Demonstrate an awareness of “Grey Areas” in the law
Demonstrate an awareness of possible further forthcoming reforms to drug law
Demonstrate a basic understanding of the criminal justice system and its processes in relation to the misuse of drugs.

For details about our courses and to discuss arranging an in-house course - please contact the Consultancy on Tel: 0208 947 8093 or email: info@brief-therapy-uk.com