Mina Kirkova, LCSW-C

Child, Adolescent, and Family Therapist

in Phoenix/Jacksonville, MD

SOLUTION-FOCUSED THERAPY FOR CHILDREN, TEENS AND FAMILIES

Solution-focused therapy emphasizes identifying practical ways to move toward improvement rather than spending most of the session analyzing how a problem began or why it continues.

As a child, adolescent, and family therapist in Phoenix, MD, I may use solution-focused techniques to help children, teens, and parents identify what is already working, clarify what they would like to change, and build on strengths and successful experiences.

The approach is based on the idea that even when a problem feels persistent, there are often times when it is less intense, less disruptive, or handled more successfully. By identifying those exceptions, we can look closely at what was different and use that information to support future progress.

FOCUSING ON WHAT IS ALREADY WORKING

When families come to therapy, it is understandable that much of their attention is focused on what is going wrong.

A child may be having frequent emotional outbursts. A teen may be struggling with motivation, school stress, or family conflict. Parents may feel that they have tried many strategies without seeing enough improvement.

Solution-focused therapy encourages us to also ask:

When is the problem less intense?
What is different during those times?
What has helped, even a little?
What is the child or family already doing successfully?
What would improvement look like in everyday life?

These questions help identify strengths, resources, and patterns that may otherwise be overlooked.

IDENTIFYING EXCEPTIONS TO THE PROBLEM

One of the central ideas in solution-focused therapy is that problems are rarely present in exactly the same way all the time.

For example, a child who frequently argues about homework may have some evenings when homework goes more smoothly. A teen who often feels overwhelmed at school may have certain classes or situations in which they feel more confident.

Rather than treating those moments as accidental, we can examine what was different. Perhaps the child had more structure, the task was broken into smaller steps, the parent used a different approach, or the teen felt more prepared. Understanding these exceptions can help us identify practical strategies that may be repeated or expanded.

SETTING CLEAR AND PRACTICAL GOALS

Solution-focused therapy places strong emphasis on what the child, teen, or family wants to be different.

Goals are often most useful when they are specific and connected to everyday life.

Instead of a broad goal such as:

“I want things to be better at home,”

we might identify a more concrete change, such as:

“I want homework time to involve less arguing.”

A teen might say:

“I want to feel less overwhelmed when I have several assignments due.”

A parent might want:

“More cooperation with morning routines.”

Clarifying what improvement would actually look like helps make therapy more focused and practical.

BUILDING ON STRENGTHS

Children, teens, and families often have more strengths than they recognize when they are under stress.

A child may already know how to calm down in certain situations. A teen may be persistent in areas that matter to them. Parents may have developed routines or communication strategies that work under some circumstances.

In solution-focused work, these strengths are not treated as secondary. They become an important part of the treatment process.

We can explore what the young person or family has already done successfully and consider how those abilities can be applied to other situations.

SOLUTION-FOCUSED THERAPY WITH CHILDREN

With children, I adapt solution-focused questions and activities to their developmental level.

A younger child may have difficulty answering abstract questions about change, so we might use simple examples, drawings, stories, or imaginative activities.

For example, I might ask:

“What would be different tomorrow if school felt a little easier?”

or:

“How would your parents know that you were having a better day?”

Children can also identify times when they handled a difficult situation successfully and explore what helped.

This makes the work more concrete and easier to connect to daily life.

SOLUTION-FOCUSED THERAPY WITH TEENS

Teens often appreciate having a voice in identifying the goals of therapy.

Rather than focusing only on what adults think should change, I encourage adolescents to identify what they want to improve in their own lives.

This may involve school stress, motivation, friendships, family conflict, confidence, emotional regulation, or future goals.

We can explore what has already helped, what the teen wants to see happen differently, and what small steps might move them closer to that goal.

This collaborative process can make therapy feel more relevant and practical.

WORKING WITH PARENTS AND FAMILIES

Solution-focused techniques can also be useful in parent coaching and family therapy.

Families may become stuck in patterns where everyone is focused on problems, mistakes, and what needs to stop.

Therapy can create opportunities to notice moments when communication goes better, routines are more successful, or conflicts are handled differently.

We can then explore:

what each family member did differently;
what helped the situation go more smoothly;
what strategies are worth repeating;
what small changes could make the next interaction more successful.

This approach helps families build on progress rather than waiting for every problem to disappear before recognizing improvement.

SMALL CHANGES CAN MATTER

Solution-focused therapy often emphasizes manageable changes rather than expecting everything to improve at once.

A child may begin by completing one part of a routine with less prompting.

A teen may take one step toward organizing a difficult assignment.

A family may reduce the intensity of one recurring conflict.

These changes may seem small, but they can provide useful information about what is working and create momentum for further progress.

COMBINING SOLUTION-FOCUSED THERAPY WITH OTHER APPROACHES

Solution-focused therapy does not have to be used by itself.

Depending on the needs of the child, teen, or family, I may combine solution-focused techniques with cognitive behavioral therapy, narrative therapy, play-based approaches, art activities, mindfulness and relaxation strategies, parent coaching, and family therapy.

The approach is individualized according to the young person’s age, concerns, strengths, family circumstances, and treatment goals.

GETTING STARTED WITH CHILD, TEEN, OR FAMILY THERAPY IN PHOENIX, MD

If your child, teen, or family is struggling with emotional, behavioral, school, or relationship concerns, solution-focused strategies may be one part of an individualized treatment approach.

Please email me at mina@minacounseling.com to discuss your concerns, determine whether my services are a good fit, and inquire about my current availability.

I provide child, adolescent, and family therapy in Phoenix, Maryland, for families from Phoenix, Jacksonville, and surrounding communities.

Find out more about Solution-Focused Therapy:

http://www.solutionfocused.net

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapy-types/solution-focused-brief-therapy