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Solution-focused therapy / SFB-A07-1

Why Not Lower — Concept brief

Understand the idea behind why not lower and consider whether it fits your context.

8 minutes · Handout · Adults; supported use as appropriate

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Fictional example: Devin has missed several appointments but still answers a supportive person's messages.

Use an ordinary or fictional example, with a clinician when appropriate. Existing coping can be explored without minimizing hardship.

The idea

Existing coping can be explored without minimizing hardship.

An ordinary example

Devin has missed several appointments but still answers a supportive person's messages.

What this can look like

After acknowledging the difficulty, identify what has kept one area from becoming even less workable.

Check the fit

What has helped you keep that connection? You may disagree with the framing, use fiction, or decide that this approach is not useful today.

A useful distinction

A preferred future can include advocacy, accommodations, and external change; optimism is not required.

Prompts for this resource

  1. What part of this idea makes sense to me?
  2. What has helped you keep that connection?

Conceptual background

What is Solution-Focused Therapy? — Solution-Focused Therapy Institute

Background on the approach only. Original exercises and wording are by More Than Therapy with AI assistance; the source does not validate or endorse these materials.

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