Future Possibilities

Another Month Gone

2009-12-12T09:54:00.009Z

Well, another month gone without a post - how weird is that? My only excuse is the amount of work I've got on at the moment - which has actually prompted this post - so perhaps being busy is a good thing :)

Two things I would like to share with you:

Firstly - I have three papers included in a book of solution focus practice being published in early 2010 - edited by a brilliant practitioner called Thorana Nelson - a Professor at Utah State and

Secondly, I have recently been commissioned to train approximately 150 specialist youth workers over six days in the New Year - and, whilst this work is 'closed' to the services commissioning me, I do have a two day open access training session available in February - and if you click the blog title, Another Month Gone (above) you'll be taken to the relevant page.

Places are limited and on a first come first served basis. And time is getting short!!!

Happy Christmas - OK it's not quite here, but it won't be long ....

Too Long ...!

2009-10-29T12:27:00.002Z

Hi,

I've had the privilege today of being reminded why solution focus is so really useful - for about eight months now I have had a large ulcer on my leg - this refuses to get better and no matter what management / therapeutic regime we use, it won't get better and indeed there is a real breakdown in a number of areas. I know it's not linked to diabetes, nor is it arterial, nor is my blood flow impaired. However, the areas of break down are excruciatingly painful, and, whilst I do medicate - no real alternative in re pain relief, the pain occasionally causes me severe distress - so, I asked the sol foc lists for ideas and wow, wow and wow were they ever generous with their ideas.

So, I have stuff to be working on and feel more hopeful than I have for a while, that I can manage the pain in ways that are useful to me.

Just thought I'd share

Paul

Open Access Training Opportunity Feb 2010

2009-10-05T20:45:00.003+01:00

Whoa, so sorry for the lack of action around here - really busy at work etc..

However, I am pleased to announce that, in response to a number of requests, the open-access training in February 2010 has a change of focus - the training is now on how Solution Focus can be used to work with young people with challenging behaviours in schools, residential settings and colleges. All other information is as per the original posting.

Please, places are limited and it would be helpful to get your booking in as soon as possible.

Unlike the majority of other consultancies, I work with solution focus AND challenging children,their teachers, parents, carers and others on a day to day basis, day in and day out. Truthfully, ".. what I say, I do, what I do, I say..."

Paul

futurepossibilities.net mailings

2009-09-02T13:51:00.002+01:00

Hello people,

back to work tomorrow but first have to tell you that I've spent a very productive few hours doing a mail shot for the futurepossibilities.net website - I really love thinking about the possibilities that becoming skillful at using solution focus and being able to redefine one's future might help others' make the best of their lives - my father always pointed out that this isn't a dress rehearsal, this is for real ...

Anyway, have a good day and I'll get back to the blog properly soon.

Paul

Has it really been a month?

2009-08-19T19:31:00.001+01:00

Ok, even I need a holiday ...!

I have returned and will be adding something pithy, witty and erudite as soon as - watch this space, please...

Paul

So, What to Do '3'

2009-07-15T18:23:00.004+01:00

If you remember we were here:- before we got distracted with new websites and podcasts -

However, if your client is really reticent, I make use of the 'absent friend' or 'family member' scenario, which goes something like this ...

' If your best friend / mom / dad / brother / sister and I were having a conversation and I asked them to describe the good bits about you; what might they tell me?' 'What else?' 'What else?' 'What else?' x 8, at least.

Why would I be doing this, I wonder aloud ... ?

I think, because it enables the client to look at themselves and say things about themselves at one remove. It appears to me to be a trait, especially amongst challenging and challenged youngsters, that the seeking of something to good to say about themselves is very hard. Why wouldn't it be? The majority of the young people I work with have spent years being told that there is nothing good about them, in any respect.

I would struggle to find something good to say about myself if my significant others had spent years putting me down ...

So, get someone else - even a fictional someone else, to be their 'voice'. and, insane as it sounds, I've even asked their dog, cat, gerbil and ferret to ''tell me something good about ...''

Paul

More about the ning. site

2009-07-13T13:14:00.003+01:00

I've just written a longish post to the ukasfp subscribers email list talking about what the West Mids sfg see as ways of moving forwards. If anyone has any, sensible, ideas, I'd be happy to hear about them. Remember, our principal aim is the growing of solution focus practice, in the West Midlands certainly, but elsewhere across the Midlands region too.

I see solution focus as so empowering I hope people come to use the approach as a matter of course rather than see it as some new fangled, new age way of thinking ...

West Midlands Social Network - NING site

2009-07-10T12:38:00.003+01:00

Following on from my post yesterday - I have set up a ning networking site - click the link in the title of this post. This site DOES NOT replace the UKASFP sites in anyway, it's intended as a supplemental site. In this way folk can follow the development of solution focus in the West Midlands, can be a more active part of the network that is developing, enhance their own practice and skills through contributions to the site and, I have to say, probably keep track of meetings more effectively - posts shouldn't disappear any more...

Materials,handouts or any other form of presentation made ought to find their way on to the site too. If somebody can't attend a meeting, at least they can be included in the discussion through access to materials.

You HAVE to sign up in order to access the full functionality of the site and this is not a substitute for belonging to, or signing up for membership to UKASFP as a whole - especially now as we move towards accreditation and grow ourselves in many other ways.

Give it a go - you won't regret it...

Solution Focus Practice - West Midlands

2009-07-09T12:14:00.004+01:00

A great big thank you to the folks at Nuneaton CAMHS for their hospitality yesterday evening. We held the latest of our West Midlands SF practice group meetings there and I think everyone got a real from the meeting - talk about future possibilities!!

We will be planning a mini conference for practitioners in the West Midlands - and anywhere else come to think of it - to be held in the New Year. We will decide a theme and a venue in due course. I think, however, that I can predict that,if it has half the impact our meeting had, it'll be brilliant.

We shared lots of sf quotes, favourite questions and sf practice details and ideas and feedback from the annual conference gave us plenty to think about and helped all of us feel we were walking the best path for us. WOW ...

The meetings timetable is on the ukasfp.com and whilst our core audience is West Mids practitioners - anybody from anywhere can stick their heads round the door and they'll be made very welcome. Give it a go ...

Paul

fpsolutionfocuspod

2009-07-04T19:43:00.006+01:00

Guess what? I'm attempting to set up a podcast, which can be found at http://fpsolutionfocuspod.podbean.com - not sure how it'll work out but, let's give it a go ...!

So, what to do - '2'

2009-06-30T13:38:00.003+01:00

A good place to start might be ....

'Just for a couple of minutes, could you tell me something about yourself that you'd be pleased / or proud, to share with me...?'

'Something that tells me what the real (name) is really like ...'

And, if that doesn't begin a conversation, I'd be very surprised!

However, if your client is really reticent, I make use of the 'absent friend' or 'family member' scenario, which goes something like this ...

' If your best friend / mom / dad / brother / sister and I were having a conversation and I asked them to describe the good bits about you; what might they tell me?' 'What else?' 'What else?' 'What else?' x 8, at least.

Why would I be doing this, I wonder aloud ... ?

Paul

So, what to do ...?

2009-06-29T13:17:00.002+01:00

Step 1, is the introduction. Who you are, what you do and why you are in the school. An indication that you are pleased to see them and a "thank you for attending" is also a real help (I find).

I also always suggest that since the door is unlocked and I'm not blocking the doorway, they could, if they want, leave. Or possibly they might want to sit down and have a chat for a bit? (Only once in 20 years have I had a walker-away, in case you were wondering!)

Now might be a good place to talk about confidentiality and the rules of engagement - the usual stuff. I also always check to make sure that they are happy and don't feel under any kind of duress - they shouldn't - but it does no harm to ask. And usually I find they stay, at this stage, because they're intrigued by what might follow.

So, assuming they're game for it and have decided to stay put, what might be the next question you ask them ....?

Paul

Initial Meeting with Adolescents who Have Not Self-Referred

2009-06-28T15:21:00.003+01:00

Many of the young people we meet in our work in schools are not self-referring. Many see their behaviour, attitude and negative perceptions of schooling as natural expressions of the mismatch between themselves and the requirements of a system which has only ever labelled them as failures.

Some adults in the system continually assume that a settled, middle-class aspirational viewpoint is naturally espoused by all our students - might be good if it were true?

So, if you don't fit, the system will work on you till you do ... In the meantime the petulant young adult standing at your door may well see you as another agent of the system - which is probably the last expression of yourself you'd ever wish someone to feel.

So, what to do ...???

Because I Can ...

2009-06-25T10:24:00.003+01:00

When I posted earlier that I had had to postpone the training event from October until the New Year, I was a little bit pi***d off. The cancellation wasn't to do with anything I'm doing or have done - and that sense of frustration lasted as long as it took me to to post the entry.

Now, because I can apply a solution focus attitude to my own situation, I figure that the postponement will make for a better training event because I have more time to practice and refine my own sf work - I use sf throughout my working life, day in, day out. Additionally I can reconsider the training and learning outcomes plan with the result that I think the event will be enhanced, rather than diminished by the move backwards. Better training for my clients ...

How good is that?

Paul

Effective Use of Solution Focus in Schools

2009-06-25T08:36:00.002+01:00

This is just to let folk know that, for reasons beyond my control, I have had to put back the training event that was originally flagged for October 2009.

The new dates are now 18th / 19th February, 2010

My sincerest apologies to any and everyone.

Paul

The Effective Use of Solution Focus in Schools

2009-06-19T08:36:00.011+01:00

Question - How can solution focus do what it says on the tin - focus on solutions? And - What does effective mean and how can solution focus change anything that happens in schools or other educational settings?

Solution focus means opening your mind to the possibility that your current practice - as a school manager, teacher, teaching assistant, governor or lunch-time supervisor - may not be the only way to do things. A solution focus approach doesn't mean a better or worse way of viewing your world, but it is different.

After 25 + years of working in and with schools I know that a variety of challenges face all staff. Good, effective, capable managers, teachers and other staff struggle daily. Some choose to get out ...

So, what to do instead? (And I don't mean going to stack shelves at the local supermarket) You have invested time and effort in your job, so why not start by thinking about the answers to these two simple questions -

1. What do I want my experience of working in education to look like in one years time (six months, next week)?

2. How will I know that it's happening?

and then ask these supplemental questions

3. What am I ALREADY doing that is contributing to what I want to happen?

4. How can I do more of what I'm already doing that is useful to me and others?

Is that it? Not quite, if it was you wouldn't need to come to a training event - but the founding principles of solution focus are quite straightforward -

"If what you do is useful for you, do more of it..."
"If what you do is unhelpful for you, stop doing it ..."
"Learn to tell the difference ..."

I cannot promise you that the training I'm offering will turn base metal into gold, I can, however, assure you that getting to grips with solution focus will help make your working and personal life better places to be...

Click on the title of this piece to be taken to the details page for the training.

Paul

'The Effective Use of Solution Focus in Schools'

2009-06-18T10:25:00.005+01:00

Future Possibilities is pleased to announce that on the 29th and 30th October we will be running an open course called 'The Effective use of Solution Focus in Schools'- click the title of the blog to be taken to the course details page. If you'd prefer to visit the consultancy website (www.futurepossibilities.net) then follow the menu links to the training pages and to the course page listing course details. If you want to email me directly then use paul dot avard at tiscali dot co dot uk and I'll get back to you as soon as I possibly can.

The venue for this training is one of the best training venues you'll ever visit, and only a few minutes walk from Birmingham's New Street Railway Station or the Pallasades car park, and in the shopping heart of Birmingham. A fantastic and much underrated city - looking forward to meeting you already.

Please be aware that places for this course are limited... 24 delegates only

Paul

UKASFP video from conference - (c) Carl Plant

2009-06-16T08:17:00.007+01:00

As promised, I have added a series of videos taken at the UKASFP conference. A great statement of how good the day was by some really enthused participants. Excellent- and thanks to the media geeks for all their hard work - the conference was blogged, live, throughout the day - see UKASFP.com

Behaviour Adaptation Workshop - UKASFP Conference '09

2009-06-15T21:19:00.000+01:00

Hi, as a specialist in behaviour, particularly that of disaffected and challenging adolescents, I am going to post short workshop details on here as a freely accessible handout. It will make lots of sense to those of you who have some experience of the solution focus process, and only a little to those who have no experience - check it for yourself.

In the meantime I'm just about to add a short video, taken at the UKASFP conference just to give some feedback and hopefully enthuse those who weren't able to come,to come next year.

Check the video out - should be available in a little while

Paul

UKASFP Conference 2009

2009-06-14T09:10:00.003+01:00

Well what a couple of days!! UKASFP 2009 was all we who attended hoped it would be and more... It was a fabulous place to be and a great place to learn, think and reflect and then do it all over again. I can only say what I felt, those who were unable to be there can follow the links to the UKASFP site where the conference blog resides and see from the many photos and videos, presentation notes and other comments just what an astonishingly good conference it was.

Have you thought about joining the association - the breadth and depth of practice skills available to you if you did; via the websites, the email list and elsewhere can really help to enhance and develop your skills? Give it a try, I urge you.

Thanks to everyone involved in the planning and execution of the conference, Kidge, Clare and Becky for their running around and Ana on the door. Particular thanks to Barry White and the committee and many thanks to Barry and Paul H for their input as co-chairs this past year. UKASFP is a great place to be ...!!

UKASFP Conference 2009

2009-06-11T08:37:00.003+01:00

Well folks, today is the day. This evening we start with the AGM at 6.30pm (reports already sent to members by Paul Hanton); and then we move on to the social side of the evening. Tomorrow is when the work starts (and what magical work it'll be). There are a few tickets left for tomorrow, so go to UKASFP.co.uk and follow the conference links.

If you can't be there, then follow proceedings at UKASFP.Com using the live blog link, either way - share in the feast that is the UKASFP conference.

My best hopes are to see and meet you there tonight and tomorrow ...

Paul

Restorative Approaches and Solution Focus

2009-06-10T16:25:00.006+01:00

My friend, Lorenn Walker, of Hawai'i posted a really useful link to a helpful research article on one of the solution focus listservs today. The research was about restorative approaches and solution focus and centred on the use of both approaches in a cases of domestic violence - Federal Probation : June 2009 Newsletter : Pono Kaulike: Reducing Violence with Restorative Justice - a great illustration of the fit between both ways of working. Thank you Lorenn: those of you interested in the research, please follow the link.

http://www.uscourts.gov/fedprob/June_2009/FocusedApproaches.html

Paul

Survival of the 'fittest' ...

2009-06-04T17:46:00.005+01:00

Couple of interesting posts on one of the solution focus listservs about the notion of the 'fittest'. Contrary to usual interpretation, Herbert Spencer - not Darwin - thanks Greg Vinnicombe - coined the phrase to mean that survival works best for for those who 'fit' best into their surroundings, and not those who are the 'fittest' in our 21st century understanding of the concept. A best fit kind of theory, having nothing to do with Rambo, but everything to do with belonging where you are most comfortable.

I like this notion

Paul

Live Live Live Live Live and 99.9% complete

2009-06-02T22:34:00.001+01:00

Future Possibilities - Education is now up and running and, apart from the last section on restorative Approaches - available to all.

Enjoy

Paul

Self Complimenting - Resistance

2009-06-02T08:01:00.003+01:00

I am working with a young man who is resistant to the idea of allowing himself self-compliments. The reason? "Every time someone says something nice, or I feel good about something, someone pulls the rug away from under me and I feel worse than I did..."

The way around this, for him?

When I complete a task, I will tell myself 'well done' (or similar) straight away - that way I can retain the sense of doing something better - small steps.

How sensible and helpful is that?

Paul

Solution Focus in Education - The Future Possibilities Consultancy

2009-05-31T11:32:00.002+01:00

As of the end of today - 31st May, 2009 Future Possibilities - Education will be available at www.futurepossibilities.net. If you are involved in education and have an interest in training, solution focus, Restorative Approaches, then visit the web site.

Look forward to hearing from you

Paul

UKASFP Conference 2009

2009-05-31T09:46:00.002+01:00

Hi,

This is just another reminder that we are fast approaching the time of the annual UKASFP Conference. It will be a great place to be there are lots of great workshops promised. Go to www.ukasfp.co.uk and follow the links to the conference. Actually that website is a good place to be if you want to find out more about the Association.

Enjoy the sun and have a good rest of the weekend!!

Video Supervision

2009-05-26T09:54:00.004+01:00

Hi,

I'm an enthusiast of and for skype / and video conferencing. I'd like to offer sf practitioners supervision via video or skype and if you are interested please email me - paul dot avard at tiscali dot co dot uk and we can discuss your needs.

Video offers real possibilities to those who are unable to travel to meet with a supervisor and allows some choice if relationships between supervisor and supervisee break down, without compromising the need for supervision.

My specialist areas are work with troubled adolescents; team building, coaching, mentoring and self development, as well as brief therapy.

Have a good day

Paul

UKASFP Conference 2009

2009-05-25T11:22:00.003+01:00

Just to remind folk that the Conference is happening in a few weeks time. Yours truly is running a workshop in the afternoon around working with challenging adolescents - the workshop is aimed at folk who work with children who challenge - teachers, EPs, parents (dare I say it) and anyone else with an interest in sfa and young people. The session is going to be practical, so be prepared to get involved.

See you there

SF Video Conferencing and email

2009-05-21T10:46:00.003+01:00

Been having conversations with a friend and fellow sfer - Carl has found a really neat little application called Tokbox, which appears to be a Skype type clone - very easy to use and very effective. Give it a try ...

Solution Focus Practice World Map

2009-05-20T14:47:00.005+01:00

Hi folks,

sorry for being quiet of late - work, work, and errr, more work. However, on the two solution focus practice lists that I subscribe to - the UKASFP one and the ICORS World / European List there is a move toward creating a world map of solution focus practice.

The world is interested in the YOUR sf practice, your training background and which aspects of sf you use and context in which you use sfa. AND where do you use the approach - London, California, Poland, Singapore, New Zealand etc..

We know that both lists host several lurkers and this is one of the target audiences for today's blog.

If you use solution focus, if you 'lurk' on one of the listserves, if you are outside the UK or in it OR anywhere else in the world - let me know. I'm compiling a list describing the practice of the lurkers in terms of sfa. Email me and let me know the information mentioned above. I will build the database of practice, without identifying you by name (unless you give me permission), and we can build our world map.

Thanks

UKASFP Conference 2009

2009-05-10T09:53:00.006+01:00

The United Kingdom Association for Solution Focus Practice has its annual conference and AGM coming up in early June.

It is at Keele, as it has been for a while; there are some amazing things promised for those attending. Take advantage of this gathering of the wonderful skills our members possess and come along - full details are available at - http://www.ukasfp.co.uk - just follow the conference links.

Mindfulness & Spirituality

2009-05-10T00:14:00.003+01:00

On one of the solution focus discussion lists there has been some talk recently about mindfulness and spirituality.

For me, mindfulness is about respect, awareness of the other and an awareness of the impact, affect or effect I might be having - whether during therapy, or when simply being with someone. For me, spirituality is being aware of the effect, or affect, of being with someone, or alone by myself. It's about my understanding of the world and, as a practicing Christian, it's also about faith.

I also hear the the words of the Buddha, when going about my work - "Every wakeful step, every mindful act is the direct path to awakening, wherever you go, there you are ..."

Perhaps I misuse this to my own end, but think about what I said the other day when talking about the arbitrariness of beginnings or endings for our work - it is not my needs that direct me in the work I do, and the work I do takes as long as it takes...

Beautiful Musical Interlude

2009-05-09T18:38:00.005+01:00

Don't normally do this kind of thing, however, I'm ever willing to make exceptions. Heard / saw this on Later with Jools Holland last night (8.05.09).

Enjoy

Paolo Nutini - Candy from Nikke Osterback on Vimeo.

Work in Progress ...

2009-05-08T11:16:00.002+01:00

Am currently reading 'Building Solutions in Child Protective Services' by Insoo and Susan Kelly. Has made sense this week since the Panorama programme on BBC tv the other day (about the Baby P case). As with everything else in life, it's easy to rubbish a system that allows mistakes to be made, whilst not actually suggesting ideas as to how to make things right.

I'd be very surprised if Ed Balls' throwing additional money at the whole social care, child protection situation does anything other than waste public money.

Improvement of a service is piecemeal and is about taking people with you, not brow-beating, bullying, vilifying, blaming, naming or shaming - all those things do is lead to a retrenching, head-down, resistant hesitancy, where no-one takes responsibility because they are all covering their own backs.

Every worker in child protection services needs access to capable, competent, trained supervisors, with time to supervise. Practitioners need time to be supervised, all need time to reflect.

The process - in this case, child protection, has no beginning or end - it is a work in progress and anything else is arbitrary and quite likely politically or economically driven - remove the check boxes and no-one can then say this work is done - the target is that there are no targets - work continues, as it should until the need goes away.

What kind of system says the work is complete when the boxes are filled in?

Solution Focus Training for schools

2009-05-08T09:41:00.001+01:00

I have also bitten the bullet and will be starting work on a second solution focus website, which will specifically offer training in solution focus approaches for the education sector - primarily schools - (primary, secondary and special schools), but also for support services - including special needs services, advisory services and any other service that provides input into schools, as well as training / support in Restorative Approaches from a solution focus point of view. Supervision is also part of the package.

Watch this space

Future Possibilities Solution Focus Consultancy

2009-05-07T20:34:00.000+01:00

It's nearly here, a little more work to help iron out some of the tweaky bits, but www.futurepossibilities.co.uk will be live soon. Check it out now if you want, there are large parts of it that are working.

Finding solution focus training has never been so easy.