Northwest Brief Therapy Training Center
Olympia, Washington
nwbttc.com


Brief Family Therapy Center: Solution-focused Brief Therapy

Deciding on a Task

Rule: Always err on the side of caution.
  1. Is the situation vague?

    2. If yes, use formula first session task.
    If no,

  2. Is there a goal?

    3. If no, is there joint work project?
    If no, not giving a task is appropriate, visitor type.
    If yes, use formula first session task.
    If yes,

  3. Is there an exception?

    4. If no, a goal-focused task is appropriate.
    If yes,

  4. Are the goal and the exception related?

    5. If no, a “do something different” task is appropriate.
    If yes,

  5. Is the exception deliberate?

    6. If no, a “prediction task” is appropriate.
    If yes, a “do more of it” task is appropriate.


(copyright: Steve deShazer 1989)

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