Henry Benavides

College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Grand Canyon University

CNL 500: Theories and Models of Counseling

Case Study Analysis

October 16, 2024

Introduction
 Ana is a 24-year-old first-generation immigrant from Guatemala who is experiencing

depression and anxiety following job loss, her husband's military deployment, and the pressures

of being a solo parent to a 1-year-old. She is presenting with significant distress, including

weight loss, sleep difficulties, feelings of hopelessness, and constant worry about her financial

situation and her husband's safety. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) is an ideal

therapeutic approach for Ana, as it is designed to help clients identify their strengths, focus on

solutions rather than problems, and set concrete goals for positive change. This analysis will

explore the goals of counseling, the treatment process, and how SFBT addresses Ana’s social and

cultural needs, supports a constructivist philosophy, and employs a collaborative approach to

prevent harm.

Goals of Counseling and Intervention Strategies

The primary goal of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) is to assist Ana in

identifying her strengths and resources to help her resolve her current challenges. Given that Ana

is facing multiple stressors, such as job loss, solo parenting, and her husband’s deployment, the

goals of counseling will revolve around empowering her to manage these issues effectively.

In SFBT, goals are often framed as “solutions” rather than problems to be solved. Ana’s

counseling will begin by identifying what her ideal future would look like. This could involve

her describing how she would feel and act once her anxiety and depression have lessened. For

example, Ana might say that she would like to feel more in control of her emotions, experience

less worry about her future, and enjoy spending time with her son.

Several intervention strategies will be employed to help Ana achieve these goals:
1. Miracle Question: This technique will help Ana envision her life without her current problems.

Ana might be asked, “If a miracle happened overnight and your problems were solved, how

would you know? What would be different in your life?” This question encourages Ana to think

about specific, tangible changes she wants to see in her behavior, relationships, and daily

functioning. By focusing on a positive future, Ana can see possibilities for change (de Shazer &

Dolan, 2014).

2. Exception Finding: Ana will be encouraged to identify times in her life when her problems

were less severe or absent. For example, when has she been able to manage her stress or worry

more effectively? Identifying these “exceptions” will help Ana recognize her internal strengths

and the coping mechanisms she already possesses (Trepper et al., 2018).

3. Scaling Questions: These questions will help Ana rate her feelings of distress or progress

toward her goals on a scale from 1 to 10. This tool can help Ana and the counselor gauge her

current emotional state and monitor her progress. For instance, Ana might be asked to rate her

hopelessness on a scale of 1 to 10. Over subsequent sessions, the counselor can track changes in

her rating (Franklin et al., 2016).

Process of Treatment

The treatment process in SFBT is typically brief, often spanning only 6 to 8 sessions.

This aligns well with Ana’s current situation, as her insurance has authorized eight sessions of

therapy. SFBT focuses on rapid engagement with the client’s strengths and resources, meaning

that Ana will start working toward her goals from the first session. The role of the counselor in

SFBT is not to analyze the root causes of Ana’s distress but rather to act as a facilitator, helping

her to identify solutions that already exist within her life (Gingerich & Peterson, 2018).
 During therapy, Ana will experience a sense of empowerment as she gains control over

her current challenges. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by her circumstances, Ana will be

encouraged to focus on small, achievable steps that move her closer to her desired future. For

example, suppose Ana desires to feel more secure about her financial situation. In that case, the

counselor might help her identify immediate, concrete actions she could take, such as exploring

job opportunities or contacting community resources for financial assistance. The counselor’s

role is collaborative, helping Ana to set realistic, solution-oriented goals and guiding her toward

achieving them.

By the end of the therapy process, Ana will have developed a set of tools and strategies

for managing her anxiety and depression. These might include coping mechanisms for dealing

with her worry about her husband’s deployment, a plan for managing her role as a solo parent,

and practical steps for improving her financial situation. As SFBT is future-focused, the final

sessions will center around maintaining Ana's progress and preparing her to continue moving

forward independently.

Addressing Social and Cultural Needs

SFBT is a highly adaptable therapy that can be tailored to meet the social and cultural

needs of diverse clients, including Ana, who is a first-generation immigrant from Guatemala.

SFBT’s emphasis on collaboration and client expertise fits well with multicultural counseling

approaches because it allows clients to define what is meaningful to them without imposing a

specific cultural framework. For Ana, this could mean focusing on how her cultural background

influences her experience as a mother and family member who values independence and self-

sufficiency (Trepper et al., 2018).

 Research has shown that SFBT is effective across different cultural contexts. According

to Franklin et al. (2016), SFBT has been used successfully with diverse populations, allowing

clients to draw from their cultural values and strengths. For Ana, who comes from a family

where emotions are not openly discussed, SFBT’s focus on practical solutions rather than

emotional exploration may feel more comfortable and culturally appropriate. The therapy’s

collaborative approach respects Ana’s autonomy and acknowledges her as the expert on her life.

Constructivist Philosophy and Collaborative Approach

SFBT aligns with a constructivist philosophy, which posits that individuals create their

realities based on their experiences and perceptions. In Ana’s case, this means that she constructs

her own understanding of her problems and potential solutions. SFBT helps Ana to reframe her

narrative, shifting her focus from what is going wrong in her life to what she can do to improve

her situation. The counselor supports Ana in constructing a more positive and hopeful narrative

where she can overcome her challenges and achieve her goals (Gingerich & Peterson, 2018).

A collaborative approach is central to SFBT. The counselor and Ana will work together as

equal partners, with Ana taking the lead in setting goals and identifying solutions. This approach

enhances Ana’s sense of agency and empowerment, as she is actively involved in the therapeutic

process rather than passively receiving advice. By emphasizing collaboration, the counselor

helps Ana to feel more in control of her life, which is particularly important given her current

feelings of helplessness and hopelessness.

Ethical Considerations

As with any therapeutic approach, ethical considerations are crucial when using SFBT.

One key consideration is maintaining the client’s autonomy and respecting their right to decide

about their own life. SFBT’s collaborative nature supports this by ensuring that Ana is actively
involved in setting the direction of therapy. Another ethical consideration is ensuring that the

counselor does not minimize the severity of Ana’s distress. While SFBT focuses on solutions

rather than problems, it is essential for the counselor to acknowledge the seriousness of Ana’s

current situation and to provide appropriate support (Nelson, 2020).

Additionally, confidentiality is essential, particularly given Ana’s vulnerable position as a

solo parent dealing with financial stress and her husband’s deployment. The counselor must

ensure that all information shared in therapy is kept confidential and that Ana feels safe

discussing her concerns without fear of judgment or disclosure.

Establishing New Homeostasis

SFBT will help Ana and her family establish a new homeostasis by empowering her to

identify and implement solutions that improve her overall well-being. As Ana becomes more

adept at managing her anxiety and depression, she will develop a sense of stability and control

over her life. This newfound stability will extend to her role as a mother, where she can create a

more supportive and nurturing environment for her son. Focusing on practical solutions and

future goals, SFBT will help Ana achieve balance and resilience in the face of ongoing

challenges.

Conclusion

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy offers a practical, strengths-based approach to

addressing Ana’s immediate concerns and helping her regain control over her life. Through

techniques such as the miracle question, exception finding, and scaling, Ana can identify her

resources and develop actionable solutions to her problems. The collaborative nature of SFBT

respects Ana’s autonomy and empowers her to construct a more positive and hopeful narrative

for her future. By addressing her social and cultural needs and adhering to ethical principles,
SFBT provides Ana with a structured yet flexible framework to achieve her therapeutic goals and

re-establish a sense of stability in her life.

 References

de Shazer, S., & Dolan, Y. (2014). More than miracles: The state of the art of solution-focused

brief therapy. Routledge.

Franklin, C., Trepper, T. S., McCollum, E. E., & Gingerich, W. J. (2016). Solution-focused brief

therapy: A handbook of evidence-based practice. Oxford University Press.

Gingerich, W. J., & Peterson, L. T. (2018). Effectiveness of solution-focused brief therapy: A

systematic qualitative review of controlled outcome studies. Research on Social Work

Practice, 23 (3), 266-283.

Nelson, T. S. (2020). Ethical considerations in solution-focused brief therapy. Journal of Family

Psychotherapy, 31 (4), 337-352.

Shakeri, J., Rezapur, F., & Esmaeeli, N. (2019). Solution-focused brief therapy for reducing

anxiety in caregivers. Aging & Mental Health, 23 (9), 1171-1179.

Trepper, T. S., Franklin, C., McCollum, E. E., & Gingerich, W. J. (2018). Solution-focused brief

therapy with diverse populations: Practical applications. Journal of Marital and Family

Therapy, 44 (2), 374-390.