Introduction to ‘Emotions in Solution-Focused Therapy: A Re-examination’

Rayya-Ghul

Abstract

I have chosen this article because it clarifies the attitude towards emotions in solution focused (SF) therapy and provides guidance on how to utilise emotions as a resource in SF conversations. It is a response to two articles which suggest that emotions are a neglected part of SF therapy (Kiser, Piercy and Lipchick, 1993, Lipchick, 1999), but it neither agrees nor disagrees with this position. Instead Miller and de Shazer challenge the wisdom of treating emotions as entities, isolated and separated from the physical and contex- tual elements of the person in which they are identified.

As so often, they draw upon the work of Wittgenstein to elucidate their argument. I have heard many SF practitioners complain “why do we need to hear about Wittgenstein and his ideas about ‘language games’? Why can’t we just get on and do ‘what works’? Why complicate everything?” I would argue that if you genuinely want to understand ‘what works’ then it is particularly important to engage with this and similar articles. Why is that?

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