Restricted accessResearch articleFirst published online 2006-07
Solution-focused Brief Therapy with Families Who Have a Child with Intellectual Disabilities: A Description of the Content of Initial Sessions and the Processes
Solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) is used in a range of child services but little
is known about its application to families who have a child with severe or profound
intellectual disabilities. This qualitative study examines SFBT with seven such
families. It considers the content of sessions and the processes that occur from the
practitioner's perspective. Participants' experiences are reported
elsewhere (Lloyd & Dallos, submitted). A thematic analysis of seven initial
sessions indicated that SFBT highlighted parents' competencies, goals and
achievements. The ‘miracle question’ prompted a change in
rapport, discussion about the impossibility of the child becoming
‘normal’ and a shift away from wishful thinking towards problem
solving. In sessions processes emerged of empowerment, integration of the goals into
the mothers' life narrative, understanding the child's abilities
and clarification of the preferred future. These themes resonated with the
literature on effective coping styles for these families. The cases suggest that
SFBT can generate a useful parent–professional partnership. However,
difficulties were encountered when a child with autism participated in the session.
Consideration is given to the ‘miracle question’ and the
inclusion of measures of self-efficacy, coping and the therapeutic relationship.
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