Solution-Focused Therapy with Children: Harnessing Family Strengths for Systemic Change
"The gift of this book is the tools it offers therapists. Selekman draws from children's games and literature, uses art and other experiential exercises, capitalizes on the natural resources of children and their families, and elicits help from relevant social network members--all toward highlighting childrens' voices, helping therapists find their 'creative edge,' and making work with children and their families fun and hopeful. In sum, it is upbeat and chock-full of resources." --Harlene Anderson, PhD, Founding Member and Faculty, Houston Galveston Institute and The Taos Institute"Selekman provides solid tools for working effectively and respectfully with children and families in today's cost-conscious managed care environment." --Bill O'Hanlon, MS, co-author of In Search of Solutions; A Brief Guide to Brief Therapy; Shifting Contexts; A Field Guide to Possibilityland"Matthew Selekman truly believes that all children and families have strengths that can be mobilized to produce rapid behavioral change....He converts that optimistic spirit into a highly readable, practical guide." --Steven Wolin, MD, coauthor of The Resilient Self"Charming, inventive, and joyful. These are unusual words in the family therapy business, but they are appropriate for this well-written and enjoyable book. Selekman supplements tried and true solution-focused techniques with an impressive collection of old and new methods taken from the far corners of the therapy world and modified to fit into a solution-focused approach....If you wish to know what an 'advanced' solution-focused model looks like, read this book!" --Don Efron, MSW, Senior Co-editor, Journal of Systemic Therapies"Blending insights from solution-focused, narrative, and traditional therapeutic approaches, Matthew Selekman offers a plethora of creative and practical suggestions for facilitating therapeutic change....His book fills a large void heretofore present in the solution-focused literature." --Scott D. Miller, PhD, Institute for the Study of Therapeutic Change"Throughout the book, Selekman's creativity and spontaneity shine through....Selekman presents his integrative Solution-Focused approach in a clear and easy to read format with numerous case examples and edited transcripts to make his points. He offers clinicians a perspective of hope and optimism while drawing on the expertise and competencies of clients in meeting their goals. This book should be required reading for anyone doing clinical work with children and families." --Cynthia Mittelmeier, PhD, in Journal of Systemic Therapies