The Break (and Summary) in Solution­ Focused Brief Therapy: Its Importance and Client Experiences*

Authors

Frances HuberFollow
Michael DurrantFollow

Abstract

The end-of-session break was nominated by Steve de Shazer as an essential com­ponent of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy; yet it is an aspect often ignored or eschewed by many Solution-Focused therapists. After reviewing the history and development of the break and the end-of-session message, this paper argues that the recency effect in cognitive psychology highlights the importance of how ther­apists conclude their sessions and that, if the way the session ends is important, perhaps it warrants some time to consider and plan. A qualitative study suggests that the break is not only useful to therapists but that clients report that the ther­apist taking a break and then providing a summary message enhances the benefit of the session for them. Limitations of the study are discussed and it is suggest­ ed that the findings contribute to discussion and ongoing evolution of the Solu­tion-Focused approach.

Recommended Citation

Huber, Frances and Durrant, Michael (2014) "The Break (and Summary) in Solution­ Focused Brief Therapy: Its Importance and Client Experiences*," Journal of Solution Focused Practices: Vol. 1: Iss. 1, Article 7.
Available at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/journalsfp/vol1/iss1/7