Solution Focused Therapy

Evaluation Studies

Contributed By: Alasdair Macdonald

Research coordinator, European Brief Therapy Association

June 13, 1996


In reference to evaluation studies I enclose the nearest thing to an up to date list. It was compiled by Heike Schemmel from Bamberg after we had discussed the topic. As research coordinator for the European Brief Therapy Association I hope to keep informed about all research as best I can. We in EBTA also share questionnaires and research ideas with each other and with anyone else who is interested and willing to share their ideas in return. I act as mailbox for questionnaires etc - presently have sets for: therapy follow-up by various means and at various times thereafter; post-session responses by clients to interview; effects of training on therapist practice; feedback about training course by students. Let me know if you need more details of these.

The Journal of Family Therapy plans a special edition devoted to sft research in early 1997. John Carpenter the relevant editor is at and on the SFT-l list. Steve and Insoo will be guest contributors. They are also hoping for a special edition of the Journal of Family and Marital Studies (I think) on solution focused work next year.

Literature referring to the evaluation of solution-focused-therapy:

Two of my inpatient nursing colleagues are planning a new group on 'Solutions' for our acute psychiatry unit. They plan an open group for all patients, focus on goals, scaling and small behavoural steps; miracle may be phrased as 'if the new pills cure you what will be different for you?'. We hope that it may generate some outcome results in a year or so if it goes well.

European Brief Therapy Association are in the process of designing a standard session record (Paul Koeck (Belgium):INTERNET:STRESS@GLO.BE) and a follow-up protocol including outcome questionnaires. When this is acceptable we will make it available to all sft workers who are interested. The idea is to collect standard information from a variety of individual workers in different countries and cultures working with various client groups. Comparisons can then be made of in-session events and of outcomes achieved overall. Much of psychotherapy lacks good outcome studies so we hope this will help our credibility with clients and service providers. We will pass on more news as it becomes available. Thanks for your interest and support. Alasdair Macdonald, Research coordinator, European Brief Therapy Association


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This page was last updated on 11/June/96.