Modernism v. Postmodernism
In modernism, who is considered the expert in therapy?
The therapist.
What are the four required elements of a story?
Background/context, characters, events (sequence/plot), tone/mood
What does it mean to externalize the problem?
Separating the person from the problem (e.g., “the anxiety” instead of “I am anxious”).
Who developed SFBT?
Insoo Kim Berg & Steve de Shazer
What is the miracle question used for?
To help clients define goals and envision a preferred future.
What is the postmodern view of reality?
Reality is subjective and constructed through experience and observation.
What is a dominant story?
A primary narrative that shapes a person’s identity, often influenced by social and cultural contexts.
Give one example of externalizing a problem.
Instead of “I’m lazy,” → “The lack of motivation is making things difficult.”
What is the core assumption of SFBT?
Clients already have the resources and strengths to solve their problems.
Provide a brief example of a miracle question.
“Suppose tonight a miracle happened and your problem was solved—what would be the first sign tomorrow?”
Give the one key difference in how problems are understood in modern vs. postmodern theories.
Modern: Problems result from deviation from normal functioning
Postmodern: Problems exist when clients perceive them as problems
What is the main goal of narrative therapy?
To help clients rewrite maladaptive or problem-saturated stories into more adaptive ones.
What is a “unique outcome” in narrative therapy?
An exception to the problem where the client resisted or overcame it.
How are goals framed in SFBT?
Goals are realistic and specific
What are scaling questions used for?
To assess progress, motivation, or severity using a numerical scale.
Explain the class discussion question: “Does truth exist?” from a postmodern perspective.
Postmodernism suggests there is no single objective truth; instead, multiple truths exist that are shaped by culture, language, and individual experience.
What are the three stages of narrative therapy?
What forces often sustain dominant stories?
Family, culture, trauma, social norms, oppression
What does the EARS acronym stand for?
Elicit exceptions
Amplify exceptions
Reinforce successes
Start again
What is a difference between solution talk and problem talk?
Solution: present and/or future oriented, strengths based, focuses on what works and behavioral modification
Problem: past oriented, keeps client stuck and focuses on their deficits
Identify three differences between modern and postmodern theories.
Why might certain events be left out of a person’s story, and why does that matter?
Events that don’t fit the dominant narrative are often omitted, which can reinforce limiting beliefs and restrict possibilities for change.
A client says, “I’m a failure and always will be.”
How would a narrative therapist intervene? (Give me 2 interventions)
Why does SFBT avoid focusing heavily on the cause of problems?
Because understanding the cause is not necessary for creating solutions. Solutions are not always tied to the problem; focus is on change and what works.
What is integrative practice?
Using multiple therapeutic approaches in a flexible, client-centered way based on what works best with clear theoretical connections that tie the models and interventions together.