Stating the goal or problem in solution therapy, the counsellor begins each meeting by asking the client what they want from the session, or from the counselling they are seeking. Clients may be quite clear about what their objectives are. In that case the counsellor proceeds to discuss examples of situations in which the goal or objective is already being achieved partly or occasionally. In the event the client can't think of situations where the goal is already occurring, the counsellor asks about hypothetical solutions wherein at some future time the goal is achieved. Goals are stated in the positive.
Goals are as specific as possible.
Goals are stated in ways that are within their control. Goals are stated in client's own language. What are you doing that keeps the problem going. These latter questions help the client move beyond the goal statement to considering exceptions to the problems, or what might comprise a hypothetical solution. We need to refine a complaint into a goal.