Workshop 14

Friday, May 15th 2019

Jan Toorop Hall

14:00 – 15:30

Title

‘Yes…And, Solution Focused Conversations and Trauma’

Presenter

Pamela King

Country

USA

Designation/Affiliation

Licensed Marriage Family Therapist

Solution Play

Abstract

How to be solution-focused when our agenda setting leads us to talking about problems, trauma, or conflict. Case examples with children and adults illustrate ways to notice solution-focused opportunities in what might otherwise be considered problem-talk. The improvisation principle of “yes…and” is illustrated as it applies to solution-focused trauma therapy. In addition to the difficult realities our clients may be facing, we must steadfastly remember that they also have ways they are coping, strengths that are useful, and hobbies through which they may experience relief. Honouring our clients as resourceful individuals and understanding they are experts on their own lives, their experiences, and the solutions that will move them forward is a most respectful course of action. These hope-oriented conversations invite clients to reflect on personal strengths and qualities during a crisis and move toward their personalized preferred future.

Learning objectives

  1. Learn 2-3 adaptations of scaling and preferred future questions with children and adults impacted by traumatic events

  2. Learn 2-3 methods for solution-talk around trauma

About presenter

Pamela K. King, LMFT, is an enthusiastic and experienced solution-focused practitioner, speaker, author, and trainer. She has over 25 years of experience in numerous settings including domestic violence treatment programs, public schools, as adjunct university faculty, and in private practice.

Ms. King is author of Tools for Effective Therapy with Children and Families: A Solution-Focused Approach, published by Routledge. She is the 2017 recipient of the Steve de Shazer Memorial Award for Innovations in Solution Focused Brief Therapy.

Ways of presenting

(X) Presentation program with projection (PowerPoint, Prezi)

(X) Showing video excerpts

(X) Exercise, actively involving the participants

Fields

(X) Therapy/counselling/coaching/social work/mental health

(X) Education/school