Clinical mental health counseling student may want to conduct outpatient counseling

Full Answer Section

  Preferred Future Work Environment I am interested in working in a school counseling setting. I believe that AFT would be a particularly useful approach in this setting because it is brief and focused on solutions. AFT could be used to help students who are struggling with academic, behavioral, or social-emotional problems. Reasons Why AFT Would Be Useful

• AFT is brief. This is important in a school setting because there is often limited time to meet with students. AFT can be completed in as few as 10 sessions.
• AFT is focused on solutions. This is helpful for students who are feeling stuck or hopeless. AFT helps students to focus on what they want to achieve, rather than on what is wrong with them.

Examples

• A student who is struggling with academic problems could work with an AFT therapist to set a goal of getting a certain grade on a test. The therapist would help the student to break down the goal into smaller steps and to develop a plan to achieve the goal.
• A student who is struggling with behavioral problems could work with an AFT therapist to set a goal of behaving in a more positive way in the classroom. The therapist would help the student to identify the triggers for their behavior and to develop strategies for coping with those triggers.

Limitations

• AFT is not appropriate for all problems. AFT is best suited for problems that are relatively short-term and that have a clear solution. AFT may not be effective for problems that are more complex or that have a longer-term history.
• AFT can be challenging for some clients. AFT requires clients to be actively involved in the process and to be willing to set goals and take action. Some clients may find this challenging.

References

• **De Jong, P., & Berg, I. K. (2002). Solution-focused therapy: A practical guide to clinical practice. New York: Brunner-Routledge.
• **Selekman, M. D. (2010). Solution-focused brief therapy: A step-by-step guide (3rd ed.). New York: Guilford Press.

How I Would Apply AFT I believe that I would be able to personally apply AFT to addressing human dysfunction, wellness, growth, and change. I am a good listener and I am able to build rapport with clients. I am also good at helping clients to identify their goals and to develop plans to achieve those goals. I believe that I would be able to use AFT in a respectful and compassionate way. I am also aware of the limitations of AFT. I know that AFT is not appropriate for all problems and that it can be challenging for some clients. However, I believe that AFT is a valuable tool that can be used to help many people.

Sample Solution

    Action Focused Therapy (AFT) is a short-term, solution-oriented therapy that focuses on helping clients achieve specific, measurable goals. AFT is based on the idea that people are more likely to change if they focus on what they want to achieve, rather than on what is wrong with them.