'Kidge Burns and Sarah Northcott’s wonderful book exploring Solution Focused Brief Therapy and its application to the field of speech and language and to the work of allied heath professionals is clear, well-structured and rooted in practice with case examples and lists of questions that practitioners will find immediately useful and relevant. Kidge and Sarah’s book will convince readers that this approach can be used, indeed has particular relevance, for people facing life-changing conditions where there can be no simple solutions. I have no hesitation in recommending this book to those working both within and beyond healthcare settings, in fact to anyone looking for an introduction to the Solution Focused approach.'Evan George, Co-director BRIEF www .brief .org .uk and co-author of Solution Focused Brief Therapy: 100 Key Points and Techniques and Brief Coaching: A Solution Focused Approach (both with Chris Iveson and Harvey Ratner)'What impressed me most about this book is the authors depth of knowledge and experience. On one hand it is a thorough introduction to solution focused brief therapy. On the other hand it is a book useful to any professional wanting to find ways of collaborating in the most challenging situations imaginable, be it with people with aphasia or people with any difficulties in communication. For practitioners working with people living with aphasia and brain damage it is a must read.' Harry Korman, MD, Child Psychiatrist, Psychotherapist SIKT Malmo, Sweden'Working with Solution Focused Brief Therapy in Healthcare Settings: A Practical Guide is a unique and important contribution for solution focused professionals. This book helps practitioners understand how to work with situations that appear unchangeable and overwhelming. Even though this book is focused on helping with situations in the medical arena, the focus on the SF mindset and the practical exercises are useful for all professionals. This book increases understanding that SF can fit for all individuals and can produce meaningful change, even with the most difficult circumstances. This book uses actual case material to walk clinicians through how to stay solution-focused while adapting the approach to meet the unique needs of each person seeking help. The emphasis on adapting the language of the approach, making things visual and acknowledging the distress of individuals is paramount for all worthwhile work. All SF clinicians would benefit from reading and internalizing this book!'Adam Froerer, Ph.D., LMFT Atlanta, Georgia, USA'This book is aimed at any therapist wanting to work in a client-centred, solution-oriented way, whether they are already familiar with the Solution Focused approached or not. It starts with a thorough introduction to the origins, principles, and development of the approach, along with evidence of its effacacy. It goes on to describe Solution Focused Brief Therapy in practice, with many real-life case examples and reflections, drawing on the authors' extensive experience. Summary sheets are included at the end. The book is clearly set out, practical and very easy to read. I found it inspirational.'Emma Osei-Mensah, Independant SLT and Solution Focused Practitioner"Working with Solution-Focused Brief Therapy in Healthcare Settings by Kidge Burns and Sarah Northcott uses an experiential approach to integrating SFBT within therapeutic interventions with service users who have a range of acute to severe and enduring health conditions across the lifespan.The reader is taken systematically through the core principles and approaches of SFBT, which is useful for anyone new to SFBT, or those more seasoned practitioners to re-engage with its philosophical tenets. With a focus on recognising its merits in fostering worthwhile therapeutic interactions, especially with individuals experiencing life-changing conditions where there can be no simple solutions such as living with stroke, Parkinson’s disease or motor neurone disease (MND) who may experience communication difficulties including expressive or receptive dysphasia.Alongside the practical advice and real-life examples where learning from the lived experience becomes crucial in appreciating the complexities of care, the book explores topics including, establishing person-centred, holistic goals for therapy, building on a person’s resources and successes, and responding to distress. There are several pages offering suggestions of questions or exercises to use with clients, and a link to photocopiable resources which can be downloaded for use in clinical practice settings.Two aspects that stand out in this publication are the way the book walks practitioners through the case studies and emphasises time and again how to stay solution-focused, whilst adapting to meet the unique needs of individuals. These are the importance of using both verbal and non-verbal approaches with emphasis on using different sensory communication strategies such as visual and tactile engagement, and the importance acknowledging the distress of individuals.The other aspect that stands out for me is how the authors present their collective knowledge, skills and experiences in developing such a practical resource. Kidge and Sarah both have backgrounds of working within clinical practice as speech and language therapists. Their work and experience complement each other well and have helped to build on the body of evidence-based practice available for practitioners today."Steve McCarthy-Grunwald, Journal of Solution Focused Practices, 8(2) 2024.
