Solution-Focused Therapy

Bill is currently the Director of Training for Focus on Solutions, an independent training agency specialising in using the Solution-Focused approach. He has introduced many thousands of people to SFT through his lecturing and training courses.His background is in social work, youth work, lecturing, counselling and management. Bill designed and led the first Masters degree in Solution-Focused Therapy offered by the University of Birmingham.Bill is a Fellow and Senior Accredited Counsellor of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy.He is the author of Solution-Focused Therapy (1998 / second edition 2005); Solution-Focused Stress Counselling (2001) and co-editor of The Handbook of Solution-Focused Therapy (2003). Bill has contributed numerous book chapters and journal articles on the Solution-Focused approach.When he′s not working he loves the company of his grandchildren, is a keen, but not very good golfer and a life long supporter of Glasgow Celtic.

′Solution-Focused Therapy is an excellent book, especially for existing counsellors wishing to expand their skills. O′Connell′s description of SFT is clear, succinct and engaging. And, as always, he maintains an open door to other counselling models thus creating a boradly-based school in which many different ideas and practices can join together under one roof′ - Chris Iveson, Founder Member of the Brief Therapy Practice ′An excellent book! O′Connell′s description of SFT is clear, succinct and engaging. As always, he maintains an open door to other counseling models, creating a broadly-based school in which many different ideas and practices can join together′ Chris Iveson, founder member of BRIEF, Europe′s largest solution-focused brief therapy training organisation ′This book is well connected with the wider counselling and therapy literature. It will particularly appeal to those coming to SF therapy from a related field, making connections and links and reinforcing many lessons′ - Dr Mark McKergow, director of sfwork, SFCT Board member and editor of InterAction: The journal of Solution Focus in organisations

• Foreword - Harvey RatnerPreface to the Third Edition - Alasdair J MacdonaldBrief TherapyFoundations of SFTOverview of the ModelThe First SessionSecond Sessions and beyond: Keeping the Focus on SolutionsThe Solution-Focused JourneySolution-Focused SupervisionFrequently Asked Questions about SFTAn Integrative Solution-Focused ApproachTips and Exercises for Using the SF ApproachAppendix: Solution-Focused ResourcesReferencesIndex