The effectiveness of solution-focused therapy with child behavior problems: A preliminary report

Preliminary findings on the effectiveness of solution-focused therapy with children who have been referred from the school system for behavior problems are reported. Significant improvements between pretest and posttest scores were found on the Conners' Parent Rating Scale (Conners, 1990) for the following subscales: conduct problems, learning problems, psychosomatic problems, impulsivity-hyperactivity, and the hyperactivity index. On the Feelings, Attitudes, and Behaviors Scale for Children (Beitchman, 1996), child respondents reported positive improvements on self-image between pretest and posttest but negative changes for the conduct-problems subscale. Implications for solution-focused practice and the treatment of child behavior problems are discussed.