<P> Solution focused therapists attempt to create a judgement - free zone for clients where what is going well, what areas of life are problem - free are discussed . Problem - free talk can be useful for uncovering hidden resources, to help the person relax, or become more naturally pro-active, for example . Solution focused therapists may talk about seemingly irrelevant life experiences such as leisure activities, meeting with friends, relaxing and managing conflict . This often uncovers client values, beliefs and strengths . From this discussion the therapist can use these strengths and resources to move the therapy forward . For example; if a client wants to be more assertive it may be that under certain life situations they are assertive . This strength from one part of their life can then be transferred - generalized to another area where new behavior is desired . Perhaps a client is struggling with their child because the child gets aggressive and calls the parent names . If the parent continually retaliates and also gets angry, perhaps they can recall another area of their life where they remain calm even under pressure; or maybe, they have trained a dog successfully who now behaves and can identify how kindness, patience and consistency were keys to eliciting the dog's good behavior . This could lead to discussion of using kindness, patience and consistency to create healthy boundaries the child might cooperate with . </P> <P> Dan Jones, in his Becoming a Brief Therapist book writes: </P> <P>'...it is in the problem free areas you find most of the resources to help the client . It also relaxes them and helps build rapport, and it can give you ideas to use for treatment...Everybody has natural resources that can be utilised . These might be events...or talk about friends or family...The idea behind accessing resources is that it gives you something to work with that you can use to help the client to achieve their goal...Even negative beliefs and opinions can be utilised as resources' . </P> <P> A key task in SFBT is supporting clients to identify and attend to their own internal competencies, skills and resources; as well as their immediate support systems and supportive social networks . This focus helps the client construct narratives as internally competent and externally supported . Expanding language here often identifies new ways to bring existing resources to bear upon present problems . Therapists empower clients to identify their own resources by way of scaling questions, problem - free talk, and during exception - seeking . </P>

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