Abstract
There are increasing calls for brief, strength-based trauma interventions. We propose a Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) intervention model that may facilitate hope and subjective well-being among trauma survivors. Based on our research among South African trauma survivors, the proposed model, “Journey of Possibilities”, focuses on eliciting clients’ desired outcome, describing the presence of their desired outcome, and utilising clients’ resources to move towards the desired outcome. It is distinct from other SFBT models, as it explicitly identifies the therapeutic relationship and collaborative language process as essential components of building hope and subjective well-being. Strength- and resource-orientated questions, especially relational questions, are also highlighted. We suggest that the model has the potential to facilitate hope and subjective well-being among trauma survivors and may inform psychological practice in the context of trauma.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data Availability
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, upon reasonable request.
Code Availability
Not applicable.
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). American Psychiatric Association.
Atwoli, L., Stein, D. J., Williams, D. R., Mclaughlin, K. A., Petukhova, M., Kessler, R. C., & Koenen, K. C. (2013). Trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder in South Africa. BioMed Central Psychiatry, 13, 182–194. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-244X-13-182
Bannink, F. P. (2008). Posttraumatic success: Solution-focused brief therapy. Brief Treatment Crisis Intervention, 8(3), 215–225. https://doi.org/10.1093/brief-treatment/mhn013
Bavelas, J., De Jong, P., Franklin, C., Froerer, A., Gingerich, W., Kim, J., Korman, H., Langer, S., Lee, M., Y., McCollum, E. E., Jordan, S. S., & Trepper, T. S. (2013). Solution focused therapy treatment manual for working with individuals (2nd ed.). Retrieved April 2, 2017 from http://www.sfbta.org/researchDownloads.html
Benjet, C., Bromet, E., Karam, E. G., & Kessler, R. C. (2016). The epidemiology of traumatic exposure worldwide: Results from the world mental health consortium. Psychological Medicine, 46, 327–343. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291715001981
Bernardo, A. B. I. (2010). Extending hope theory: Internal and external locus of trait hope. Personality and Individual Differences, 49, 944–949. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2010.07.036
Blundo, R. G., Bolton, K. W., & Hall, J. C. (2014). Hope: Research and theory in relation to solution-focused practice and training. International Journal of Solution-Focused Practices, 2(2), 52–62. https://doi.org/10.14335/ijsfp.v2i2.22
Bolier, L., Haverman, M., Westerhof, G. J., Riper, H., Smit, F., & Bohlmeijer, E. (2013). Positive psychology interventions: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies. BMC Public Health. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-13-119
Cahill, S. P., Foa, E. B., Hembree, E. A., Marshall, R. D., & Nacasch, N. (2006). Dissemination of exposure therapy in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 19, 597–610. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.20173
Carr, S. M., Smith, I. C., & Simm, R. (2014). Solution-focused brief therapy from the perspective of clients with long-term physical health conditions. Psychology, Health & Medicine, 19(4), 384–391. https://doi.org/10.1080/13548506.2013.824594
Cheavens, J. S., Feldman, D. B., Gum, A., Michael, S. T., & Snyder, C. R. (2006). Hope therapy in a community sample: A pilot investigation. Social Indicators Research, 77, 61–78. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-005-5553-0
Cloitre, M. (2015). The “one size fits all” approach to trauma treatment: Should we be satisfied? European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 6, 27344. https://doi.org/10.3402/ejpt.v6.27344
Compton, R. J., Wirtz, D., Pajoumand, G., Claus, E., & Heller, W. (2004). Association between positive affect and attentional shifting. Cognitive Research and Therapy, 28, 733–744. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-004-0663-6
Connie, E. E., & Froerer, A. S. (2020). The Connie-Froerer Diamond Model of Solution Focused Brief Therapy. Personal Communication with E. Connie on January 21, 2020
Cusack, K., Jonas, D. E., Forneris, C. A., Wines, C., Sonis, J., Middleton, J. K., Feltner, C., Brownley, K. A., Olmsted, K. R., Greenblatt, A., Weil, A., & Gaynes, B. N. (2016). Psychological treatments for adults with posttraumatic stress disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 43, 128–141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2015.10.003
Diale, B. M. (2014). Black adolescents’ experiences of domestic violence in South Africa: A solution focused group therapy intervention approach. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 5(16), 506–515. https://www.richtmann.org/journal/index.php/mjss/article/view/3333
Franklin, C., Zhang, A., Froerer, A., & Johnson, S. (2017). Solution focused brief therapy: A systematic review and meta-summary of process research. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 43(1), 16–30. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12193
Fredrickson, B. L. (2000). Cultivating positive emotions to optimize health and well-being. Prevention & Treatment. https://doi.org/10.1037/1522-3736.3.1.31a
Froerer, A. S., & Connie, E. E. (2016). Solution-building, the foundation of solution focused brief therapy: A qualitative Delphi study. Journal of Family Psychotherapy, 27(1), 20–34. https://doi.org/10.1080/08975353.2016.1136545
Froerer, A. S., Von Cziffra-Bergs, J., Kim, J. K., & Connie, E. E. (2018). Solution-focused brief therapy with clients managing trauma. Oxford University Press.
Gilman, R., Schumm, J. A., & Chard, K. M. (2012). Hope as a change mechanism in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 4, 270–277. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0024252
Gingerich, W. J., & Peterson, L. T. (2012). Effectiveness of solution-focused brief therapy: A systematic qualitative review of controlled outcome studies. Research on Social Work Practice, 23(3), 266–283. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049731512470859
Green, L. S., Oades, L. G., & Grant, A. M. (2006). Cognitive-behavioral, solution-focused life coaching: Enhancing goal striving, well-being, and hope. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 1(3), 142–149. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760600619849
Joubert, J., & Guse, T. (2021). Implementing solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) to facilitate hope and subjective well-being among South African trauma survivors: A case study. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 00, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.12416
Kaminer, D., & Eagle, G. T. (2017). Interventions for posttraumatic stress disorder: A review of the evidence base. South African Journal of Psychology, 47(1), 7–22. https://doi.org/10.1177/0081246316646950
Kim, J. S., & Franklin, C. (2015). Understanding emotional change in solution-focused brief therapy: Facilitating positive emotions. Best Practices in Mental Health, 11(1), 25–41.
Lloyd, H., & Dallos, R. (2008). First session solution-focused brief therapy with families who have a child with severe intellectual disabilities: Mothers’ experiences and views. Journal of Family Therapy, 30, 5–28. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6427.2008.00413.x
Lu, L., & Gilmour, R. (2004). Culture and conceptions of happiness: Individual oriented and social oriented SWB. Journal of Happiness Studies, 5, 269–291. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-004-8789-5
McKergow, M. (2016). SFBT 2.0: The next generation of solution-focused brief therapy has already arrived. Journal of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, 2(2), 1–17. https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/journalsfp/vol2/iss2/3
Michael, S. T., Taylor, J. D., & Cheavens, J. (2000). Hope theory as applied to brief treatments: Problem-solving and solution-focused therapies. In C. R. Snyder (Ed.), Handbook of hope (pp. 151–166). Academic Press.
Ogunsakin, O. A. (2015). Post-traumatic stress disorder: Perspective on the role of solution-focused brief therapy. The International Journal of Health, Wellness, and Society, 4(3–4), 17–33. https://doi.org/10.18848/2156-8960/CGP/v04i3-4/41113
Paintain, E., & Cassidy, S. (2018). First-line therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder: A systematic review of cognitive behavioural therapy and psychodynamic approaches. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 18(3), 237–250. https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.12174
Parks, A. C., & Biswas-Diener, R. (2013). Positive interventions: Past, present, and future. In T. Kashdan & J. Ciarrochi (Eds.), Mindfulness, acceptance, and positive psychology: The seven foundations of well-being (pp. 140–165). Context Press.
Ratner, H., George, E., & Iveson, C. (2012). Solution focused brief therapy: 100 key points and techniques. Routledge.
Retnowati, S., Ramadiyanti, D. W., Suciati, A. A., Sokang, Y. A., & Viola, H. (2015). Hope intervention against depression in the survivors of cold lava flood from Merapi mount. Procedia: Social and Behavioural Sciences, 165, 170–178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.12.619
Schmit, E. L., Schmit, M. K., & Lenz, A. S. (2016). Meta-analysis of solution focused brief therapy for treating symptoms of internalizing disorders. Counseling Outcome Research and Evaluation, 7(1), 21–39. https://doi.org/10.1177/2150137815623836
Seligman, M. E. P., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2000). Positive psychology: An introduction. American Psychologist, 55, 5–14. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.55.1.5
Sin, N. L., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2009). Enhancing well-being and alleviating depressive symptoms with positive psychology interventions: A practice-friendly meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 65, 467–487. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.20593
Snyder, C. R. (2000). Handbook of hope: Theory, measures, and applications. Academic Press.
Thornton, L. M., Cheavens, J. S., Heitzmanm, C. A., Dorfman, C. S., Wu, S. M., & Anderson, B. L. (2014). Test of mindfulness and hope components in a psychological intervention for women with cancer recurrence. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 82, 1087–1100. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0036959
Von Cziffra-Bergs, J. (Ed.). (2018). Creative solution building: Solution focused brief therapy across Southern Africa. Solution Focused Institute of South Africa.
Zhang, A., Franklin, C., Currin-McCulloch, J., Park, S., & Kim, J. (2018). The effectiveness of strength-based, solution-focused brief therapy in medical settings: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 41, 139–151. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-017-9888-1
Acknowledgements
We thank Dr Jacqui von Cziffra-Bergs for her contribution towards the development of this model.
Funding
The first author received a bursary from the University of Pretoria.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The author(s) declare(s) that there is no conflict of interest.
Ethical Approval
Before commencement of this study, approval was obtained from the University of Pretoria’s Research Ethics Committee (GW20180913HS) and the Ekurhuleni Health District Research Committee (EHDRC) (GP_201810_082). The researchers also adhered to the ethical code of conduct for psychologists, as outlined by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA).
Consent to Participate
Written informed consent was obtained from all participants before their involvement in the study.
Consent for Publication
All participants involved in this study provided written informed consent for publication of research findings.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Joubert, J., Guse, T. A Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) Intervention Model to Facilitate Hope and Subjective Well-being Among Trauma Survivors. J Contemp Psychother 51, 303–310 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10879-021-09511-w
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10879-021-09511-w