Becoming a Solution Detective is a practical, how-to guide for therapists, counselors, social workers, psychologists, nurses, and other professionals who are interested in making their practice solution-focused quickly and effectively. The authors, co-founders of the Brief Therapy Group in Dublin, Ireland, demystify the process of psychotherapy, making the concept of solution-based therapy accessible and relevant through case examples, practice exercises, and role-plays. The book's hands-on approach allows practitioners to adopt the authors' simple, self-teaching style and apply it to their work with clients. Becoming a Solution Detective explains complicated psychological concepts in a simple and concise manner with a jargon-free clarity that allows the ideas to be applied and understood by a much wider readership than traditional therapists. The book provides a framework for the solution-based approach to problem-solving that extends beyond the limits of psychotherapy and counseling into the areas of education, personal development, conflict resolution, organizational consultancy, and life management. Each chapter contains a case study with sample answers and approaches, tables, and practice exercises. Becoming a Solution Detective includes practical information on:
differences between the solution-based approach and traditional therapy
establishing a successful therapeutic alliance with clients
determining detailed, meaningful goals for the client
mapping the client’s journey to a solution
possible “dead ends” in applying this type of therapy
and much more! Becoming a Solution Detective is equally effective for newcomers to solution-focused therapy and professionals seeking to apply its principles to their own practices. As an academic textbook, the book is ideal for individual study in a variety of courses, including social work, counseling, nursing, psychology, education, and any other helping professions. Contents: Part I: Becoming a Solution Detective. Becoming a Solution Detective. Part II: Investigating Solutions: Four Stages. Investigating Solutions: Four Stages. Stage 1: Starting Where You Are At. Stage 2: Where Do You Want to Go? Stage 3: How Far Have You Come? Stage 4: What Is the Next Step? Part III: Managing Setbacks and Challenges. Managing Setbacks and Challenges. Attending to Client Motivation. Learning from the Client. Staying a Customer as a Therapist. About the Authors: John Sharry, DPsych, is a family and child psychotherapist with over 20 years experience in mental health and is a founder and Director of the Parents Plus Charity. He also leads a research group based at TCD looking at the application of technology to promoting mental health. He has published over 30 research and practice papers in international peer-reviewed journals and is the author of ten books in counselling and mental health including three best-selling positive psychology books. Brendan Madden, MA, is a psychologist and therapist with extensive experience in the field of brief therapy and EAP counseling services. He is a Founding Director and Senior Trainer with the Brief Therapy Group training partnership, a leading provider of SFBT training. Together with his colleagues he has published in national and international journals in the field of counseling and therapy. Melissa Darmody DPsych, is a counseling psychologist with extensive experience delivering Brief Therapy workshops and EAP workshops to a diverse range of organizations and groups in Ireland, and has fifteen years’ experience in the area of EAP services to organizations. She has particular expertise in working with victims of abuse and trauma and diversity/dignity interventions with the workplace and is a trained mediator. | 
