The “Doing What Works” Group

Abstract Doing What Works, an up to five-session solution-focused therapy group for adult psychiatric outpatients, blends solution-focused methods, group process, and psychoeducation about solution-focused principles. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed for 108 participants who attended the group. As hypothesized, self-rated “control of the problem” increased after participation. In addition, participants who attended more of the five sessions reported more change. Qualitative analysis of subjects' written comments suggested that amplification of small behaviors, social interaction, acceptance, and the “doing what works philosophy” were perceived by group members as “ingredients of change.”

[1]  J. Bavelas,et al.  An interactional model of questions as therapeutic interventions. , 2005, Journal of marital and family therapy.

[2]  S. de Shazer,et al.  The Bruges Model , 2004 .

[3]  J. Marecek.  Dancing through minefields: Toward a qualitative stance in psychology. , 2003 .

[4]  Nicholas Frank Pidgeon,et al.  Grounded theory in psychological research. , 2003 .

[5]  S. Shazer,et al.  The Bruges model: A Solution-Focused approach to problem drinking : Special Section: Solution-Focused Brief Therapy for Alcohol and Susbstance Abuse , 2003 .

[6]  S. Kvale.  The Psychoanalytic Interview as inspiration for qualitative research , 2001, Social Psychological Review.

[7]  S. Stith,et al.  Meta-Dialogues in Domestic Violence-Focused Couples Treatment , 2000 .

[8]  W. Gingerich,et al.  Solution-focused brief therapy: a review of the outcome research. , 2000, Family process.

[9]  W. O'Hanlon,et al.  A Guide to Possibility Land: Fifty-One Methods for Doing Brief, Respectful Therapy , 1999 .

[10]  M. Swanson,et al.  Family Centred Brief Solution‐focused Therapy with Chronic Schizophrenia: a Pilot Study , 1997 .

[11]  A. Macdonald.  Brief Therapy in Adult Psychiatry – Further Outcomes , 1997 .

[12]  Ellen K. Quick.  Doing What Works in Brief Therapy: A Strategic Solution Focused Approach , 1996 .

[13]  P. R. Nickerson.  Solution-focused group therapy. , 1995, Social work.

[14]  A. Macdonald.  Brief therapy in adult psychiatry , 1994 .

[15]  Helen W. Coale.  Using Cultural and Contextual Frames to Expand Possibilities , 1994 .

[16]  S. Friedman.  The new language of change: Constructive collaboration in psychotherapy. , 1993 .