1001 Solution-focused Questions [Paperback]

NOTE: I received a free review copy of this book from Metapsychology Online Reviews; a more detailed version of my review appears on that site.

In this book, author and clinical psychologist Fredrike Bannink literally does provide 1,001 solution-focused questions; these can be found in Chapter 10. However, Bannink delves much deeper than this simple list, offering the reader a brief history of solution-focused work, a guide to identifying the various types of client motivation, and specific information on how to use solution-focused interviewing in therapy sessions. Furthermore, Bannink includes a total of twenty-four exercises throughout the book. These are designed both as occasions for self-reflection and as opportunities to practice solution-focused methods.

As noted, Bannink begins with an overview of solution-focused interviewing. She goes on to address the issue of motivation in solution-focus treatment, describing the differences between customers, complainants, and visitors and discussing the solution-focused questions appropriate to each type of client. (Note that the solution-focused questions are actually listed throughout the book in addition to the complete list of 1,001 questions provided in Chapter 10.)

Bannink then leads the reader through the entire solution-focused treatment process, breaking down the model session by session. She starts with the first session, offering detailed information on everything from how long this session should last to which solution-focused questions should be used to how to conclude the session. Bannink's guidelines are specific: in addition to a myriad of sample questions, she also provides case examples. From the initial session, she continues on to address subsequent appointments, homework assignments, and concluding the sessions (termination); she incorporates instruction on using other solution-focused skills as well.

Chapter 10, which offers the promised 1,001 solution-focused questions, organizes the questions under a total of nineteen sub-headings. Some of the questions are for general use, such as questions about goal formation and questions about competencies. Others cover either specific situations or specific clients, including (but not limited to) the following: questions for clients who have experienced traumatic events, questions for clients in cognitive therapy, questions for clients in a crisis situation, questions for children, questions for groups (couples, families), questions for increasing hope, and questions about relapse.

In the final chapters, Bannick discusses use of solution-focused interviewing in situations outside of the therapy relationship. To conclude the book, Bannink runs through an entire solution-focused therapy case example, from the initial appointment to the follow-up session several months later. Finally, she includes several very useful appendices which offer quick references to protocols for the first session, goal formation, subsequent sessions, finding exceptions, formulating feedback, and externalizing the problem.

As a clinical psychologist myself, I have long been drawn to the solution-focused method, including attending several workshops led by Bill O'Hanlon, a pioneer in Solution-Oriented Therapy. However, as much as I like this approach in theory, I have frequently struggled with it in practice. But in reading Bannink's book, I found that many of my own "sticking points" with solution-focused interviewing were addressed for the first time--for example, how to intervene when a client persists in responding "I don't know."

In summary, for those looking to become skilled in this method, Bannink has created an invaluable instruction manual that is likely to become highlighted and dog-eared extensively over time (as my own copy already has).

If you think the Socratic method or Motivational Interviewing are excellent ways to guide people with questions, you are in for a real treat when you read this book.

The subtitle on the title page is "Handbook for Solution-Focused Interviewing". That is more descriptive of the book. The 1001 questions, which are numbered, amount to less than 20% of the book.

She describes six types of useful questions and many ways to use them. The book is well written, thorough, complete and makes an excellent text for the learner or intermediate user of Solution-Focused Therapy (or interviewing as she calls it). I do not have enough background in the therapy to say it would be excellent for the very experienced in SFT. Although, I would think so.

For example, her material on paraphrasing contains instruction to turn impossibilities into possibilities. She does this using verb tenses and avoids the conditional tense. E.g., "I can never ask a girl out" becomes "So far you have not managed to ask a girl out."

Fredrike Bannink's 1001 SOLUTION-FOCUSED QUESTIONS invites professionals to help clients view problems in terms of what is going right, using this emphasis to visualize goals and solutions to build more positive approaches and relationships. Nearly 30 years of clinical practice contributes to a set of solution-focused questions that can be used to guide clients in their therapy issues, making for a fine pick for any psychology library!

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