986-Supportive to Solution Focused Interventions

Counselor Toolbox Podcast with DocSnipes

### Summary of the Video

#### Introduction

- Presenter: Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes

- Topic: Moving from supportive to solution-focused interventions, primarily with children and adolescents.

#### Differentiating Interventions

- Supportive Interventions:

- Grounded in empathy

- Aim to help individuals survive the moment and return to emotional regulation

- Analogous to plugging a hole in a sinking ship temporarily

- Solution-Focused Interventions:

- Aim to help individuals move from surviving to thriving

- Focus on long-term solutions and prevention of future issues

#### Supportive Interventions

- Establish rapport and validate feelings

- Techniques include active listening, radical acceptance, and distress tolerance activities

- Help individuals re-regulate emotionally and return to their baseline state

#### Examples of Supportive Interventions

- Active listening

- Radical acceptance: Encouraging acceptance of reality to reduce distress

- Distress tolerance activities: Techniques to help manage immediate emotional distress

#### Transition to Solution-Focused Interventions

- Requires the individual to be emotionally regulated and ready to problem-solve

- Involves identifying problems and hoped-for resolutions

- Encourages brainstorming and implementing practical solutions

#### Solution-Focused Techniques

- Identifying strengths and past successes

- Looking for exceptions to the problem

- Encouraging realistic goal setting and problem-solving

#### Challenges in Transitioning to Solution-Focused Interventions

- Individuals may get stuck in supportive interventions due to:

- Denial or avoidance

- Feeling overwhelmed

- Dependency on others to fix their problems

- Stigma associated with their issues

#### Enhancing Motivation for Change

- Highlight the benefits of making changes versus staying the same

- Use decisional balance charts to weigh pros and cons

- Provide continuous reinforcement and follow-up

#### Special Considerations

- Developmental disabilities and severe depression may require tailored approaches

- Consider cultural sensitivity and appropriateness of interventions

- Ensure interventions match the individual's developmental level and personal context

#### Maintaining Motivation

- Regular check-ins and assignments to keep individuals on track

- Reinforcement for effort and progress

- Avoid rewarding backsliding and encourage continued problem-solving

#### Addressing Underlying Issues

- Help individuals understand and address the root causes of their distress

- Encourage looking at all contributing factors and focusing on controllable aspects

- Use narrative therapy and cognitive processing techniques for deeper exploration

### Time Codes for Major Points

1:05 Introduction and topic overview by Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes

4:10 Differentiation between supportive and solution-focused interventions

7:45 Explanation of supportive interventions and their purpose

12:20 Examples of supportive interventions (active listening, radical acceptance)

21:30 Transitioning to solution-focused interventions and challenges faced

31:00 Techniques for enhancing motivation and maintaining change

Feel free to ask for more details or a deeper explanation on any part of the video!

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