Strengths-based Therapy

John J. Murphy, Professor of Psychology at the University of Central Arkansas (USA), is an internationally recognised clinician and trainer of client-directed, strengths-based therapies. His books have been translated into multiple languages and he has trained thousands of helping professionals throughout the world. Jacqueline A. Sparks is a Professor of Couple and Family Therapy in the College of Health Sciences at the University of Rhode Island (USA). She has written and trained extensively on the use of systematic client feedback in psychotherapy to promote client voice and choice.

This book is rich with clinical dialogues that help readers put into practice the collaborative, transtheoretical ideas and methods of strengths-based therapy. SBT challenges the assumptions of diagnosis-based treatments and offers an alternative client-directed approach. A must read for mental health practitioners and graduate students.Michael J. Lambert, Ph.D., Professor, Brigham Young UniversityEditor of "Bergin and Garfield's Handbook of Psychotherapy and Behavior Change" Whether you're a novice and simply curious about Strength-Based Therapy, or an experienced SBT clinician, this book is a must read. It offers an in-depth understanding of the roots of this client-centered therapy approach, a clear description of its components along with clinical examples that bring the ideas to life. Regardless of your current theoretical model, if you want better outcomes with your clients—and more enjoyment from your work—you will greatly benefit from this practical guide. Michele Weiner- Davis, LCSWCo-author of "In Search of Solutions: A New Direction in Psychotherapy"I am very excited to see the publication of this book. Emphasizing a strength-based approach to therapy is not only a needed addition to current practice, it is a needed corrective. Fostering strength is one of the best ways to correct psychopathology. The book provides an excellent theoretical and research base for this approach, and follows it up with a whole set of useful suggestions for strength-based practice. Arthur C. Bohart, Professor Emeritus, California State University-Dominguez HillsAuthor of "How Clients Make Therapy Work: The Process of Active Self-Healing"It is clear from the research that clients--not therapists--are the principal driving force behind positive therapeutic change. This unique and compelling book shows how counsellors and psychotherapists can capitalise on that and help clients make the most of their therapy. Accessible, informed and illustrated throughout with client studies and dialogues, Strengths-based therapy can help therapists of all orientations develop their practice in a client-centred, outcome-informed, and socially-just direction. An invaluable addition to the contemporary counselling and psychotherapy literature.Mick Cooper, Professor, University of RoehamptonCo-author of "Pluralistic Counselling and Psychotherapy" Read Strength-Based Therapy and improve your therapeutic success rate. Murphy and Sparks share a thought-provoking non-pathologizing therapy in which client wisdom is championed as a major ingredient of successful outcome. They generously illustrate this with their wealth of clinical experience—showing their embodiment of respect and humility, and importantly, exemplifying ‘doing social justice.Harlene Anderson, Ph.D., International Consultant, The Toas Institute, Houston Galveston Institute.

• Foreword, Preface, Acknowledgements, Abbreviations Part 1 DISTINCTIVE THEORETICAL FEATURES OF SBT 1 History of SBT 2 SBT as trans-theoretical and value added 3 Clients as heroes of change 4 SBT as client directed 5 SBT and therapist factors 6 SBT and the therapeutic alliance 7 SBT and hope 8 SBT and social constructionism 9 SBT language and practices 10 SBT and diagnosis 11 SBT as systemic 12 Cultural considerations in SBT 13 Social justice and SBT 14 SBT and client feedback 15 Challenges of SBT practice Part 2 DISTINCTIVE PRACTICAL FEATURES OF SBT 16 Being respectfully curious 17 Validating clients 18 Instilling hope 19 Exploring clients’ theories of change 20 Exploring clients’ desired future 21 Recruiting client resources 22 Listening for change 23 Asking resilience and coping questions 24 Building on exceptions 25 Co-creating new stories 26 Using between-session strategies 27 Collecting systematic client feedback 28 Creating strengths-based work environments 29 Integrating SBT into training and supervision 30 Acting for social justice Appendix A, References, Index, Figures.