Becoming a Solution Detective: A Strengths-Based Guide to Brief Therapy

Becoming a Solution Detective is a practical, how-to guide for therapists, counselors, social workers, psychologists, nurses, and other professionals who are interested in making their practice solution-focused—quickly and effectively. The authors, co-founders of the Brief Therapy Group in Dublin, Ireland, demystify the process of psychotherapy, making the concept of solution-based therapy accessible and relevant through case examples, practice exercises, and role-plays. The book's hands-on approach allows practitioners to adopt the authors' simple, self-teaching style and apply it to their work with clients.

Becoming a Solution Detective explains complicated psychological concepts in a simple and concise manner with a jargon-free clarity that allows the ideas to be applied and understood by a much wider readership than traditional therapists. The book provides a framework for the solution-based approach to problem-solving that extends beyond the limits of psychotherapy and counseling into the areas of education, personal development, conflict resolution, organizational consultancy, and life management. Each chapter contains a case study with sample answers and approaches, tables, and practice exercises.

Becoming a Solution Detective includes practical information on:

• differences between the solution-based approach and traditional therapy
• establishing a successful therapeutic alliance with clients
• determining detailed, meaningful goals for the client
• mapping the client’s journey to a solution
• possible “dead ends” in applying this type of therapy
• and much more!

Becoming a Solution Detective is equally effective for newcomers to solution-focused therapy and professionals seeking to apply its principles to their own practices. As an academic textbook, the book is ideal for individual study in a variety of courses, including social work, counseling, nursing, psychology, education, and any other helping professions.

John Sharry, DPsych, is a family and child psychotherapist and works part-time as Principal Social Woker for the Mater Hospital and as a Director of the Parents Plus Charity. He co-founded the Brief Therapy Group in Dublin, Ireland, in 1998 with Brendan Madden and Melissa Darmody.

Brendan Madden, MA, is a psychologist with over 20 years experience in the behavioral healthcare and employee assistance sectors. He is Chief Executive of Relationships Ireland, a not-for-profit counseling agency.

Melissa Darmody, DPsych, is a counseling psychologist whose current role is Clinical Director of Towards Healing, the Catholic Church service for adult survivors of abuse in Ireland. She also has a successful clinical practice in supervision and training.