CHILDREN'S STORIES, CHILDREN'S SOLUTIONS:

LISTENING FOR OPENINGS AND AMPLIFYING CHANGE

Jeff Chang, Ph.D, R.Psych.

Associate Professor

Athabasca University

European Brief Therapy Association,

Leeuwarden, Netherlands

September 28, 2014

Acknowledgements

Calgary Family Therapy Centre The P family Athabasca University Research and

Study leave

Overview

In this workshop, Jeff will use a client session to distinguish: Using language purposefully to invite

construction of preferred outcomes: What does the family want? When does it happen? What can they do to have it happen more?

Listening for and using relational openings Differences and distinctions Curiosity, wonderment, surprise

Overview

This collaborative approach encompasses five key interlocking activities: Setting the relational stage Listening for clients’ world view, strengths,

and preferences Negotiating a solvable problem or an

achievable project Opening meaningful experiences of

difference Circulating these experiences of difference

Situating myself

Living in Calgary, Alberta, Canada Professor of counselling at Athabasca

University Clinical Supervisor at Calgary Family

Therapy Centre

Situating myself

Thirty years’ experience as: Front-line therapist in children’s mental

health Employee assistance program counsellor

and supervisor Director and program developer in

children’s mental health Reflected on the similarities and

differences between SFBT and narrative therapy over the last 25 years: “Are You Solution-Focused or Narrative or What?”

Situating myself

Orienting Ideas

Think discursively and deconstructively Think coherently Think ecologically and systemically Think relationally Think developmentally Think positively

Five Interlocking Activities

This collaborative approach encompasses: Setting the relational stage Listening for clients’ world view, strengths,

and preferences Negotiating a solvable problem or an

achievable project Opening meaningful experiences of

difference Circulating these experiences of difference

The Interview

Context: Summer Externship at Calgary Family

Therapy Centre Consultation/demonstration interview The P family:

Parents: Kelly (F), Krista (M)Kody (12), Kori (9), Kamryn (5)

Violent outburstsKody was in day treatment in Grade 2More responsive to Dad than MomMom had to restrain him at last session

The Interview

Jeff being a “goof”

Seeking a problem description Enough so that we all know why we are

there

Pokemon cards “Getting to know the child apart from the

problem”

The Interview

“Pokemon”

The Interview

Looking for strengths/possibilitiesPersistence/longevityPossibilities for a metaphor?

Unexpected “gem” no. 1… Leads to… Unexpected “gem” no. 2

Bringing up a problem: “The elephant in the room” – last week’s session Unexpected “gem” no. 3

The Interview

“Getting to know the child apart from the problem”

Looking for strengths/possibilitiesPersistence/longevityPossibilities for a metaphor?

Unexpected “gem” no. 1… Leads to… Unexpected “gem” no. 2

Contact:

Presentation available at: http://

familypsychologycentre.webs.com/jeff-s-workshop-schedule

E-mail: jeffc@athabascau.ca

The Most Important Thing

Madhav Ghimire, the national poet of Nepal, said:

“When you touch people with compassion, their good characteristics

emerge”