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SYLLABUS

Educ.692Z Solution-Focused Interventions in the Schools

Professor William Matthews, Ph.D. and Doctoral Candidate Bruce Poulsen
Hills South Office 363, 545-3610

Objectives:

This course will use the principles of brief solution-focused therapy for the classroom (k-12) and is designed for classroom teachers, counselors and school psychologists. The course will have four basic components: (1) introduction to principles; (2) assessment of problem system; (3) development of interventions; and (4) application and evaluation of interventions. The objective is to have students understand the principles and theory of solution focused therapy and to be able to develop useable interventions in the a variety of settings in the school system. The course format will involve lecture, presentation of case material, and in class exercises for actual skill development. Course evaluation will involve; (1) review of and integration with the current research literature; and (2) the development in employment of solution-focused interventions in an actual setting.

Books & Readings:

Durrant, M., (1995) Creative Strategies for School Problems: Solutions for Psychologists and Teachers, Norton.

Metcalf,L. (1995) Counseling Towards Solutions. New Jersey: Center for Applied Research in Education.

Recommended: Selekman, M. (1993) Pathways to Change: Brief Therapy Solution With Difficult Adolescents. New York: Guilford Press.

Plus assorted handouts.

Class Readings
1 Introduction---evolution of psychotherapy Constructivism Chaps.1 Selekman; Metcalf
2 Challenging Assumptions Chaps.2 Selekman; Metcalf
3&4 Co-creating a context for change Chap3;Selekman, Metcalf 3
5&6 Conducting the first interview (component of SF interviewing) Chaps. 3 cont.
7&8 Prescriptions for change Selekman 4; Metcalf 4&5
9 Prescriptions (continued) (Keeping change going) Selekman 6; Metcalf 8
10 Attitudes into resources Metcalf 7
11&12 SF Group; dealing with families & larger system Selekman 7 (guest-Sandy
& larger system Blount
14 Creating the atmosphere in the school
Putting SFT into practice		 Metcalf 9 (guest)
15 Wrap-up---where do we go from here?