Issues of Expertise and Incorporating the Clients’ Social Context Into Therapy: Solution-Focused Brief Therapy With LGBTQI Clients

Reviews the book, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy With the LGBT Community: Creating Futures Through Hope and Resilience by Rebekka Ouer (see record 2016-02094-000). The book applies solution-focused brief therapy (SBFT) principles to working with clients from the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI) communities. Ouer introduces the reader very briefly to some important aspects of LGBT communities, including the current and preferred terms relating to sexuality and gender and preferred pronouns for trans clients, concepts of gender and sexual fluidity, some information on the transition process for trans clients, and a caution against the use of conversion therapy to treat same-sex sexual attractions. Ouer describes, in detail and with a great deal of reference to the historical development, the basic assumptions of SFBT, particularly the approach to solution-focused inquiry, how to establish the suitable environment, the approach to listening, the major techniques used in SFBT, and the process of eliciting hope from clients. According to the reviewer, the intended audience of the book is unclear, but it succeeds much better as an introduction to SFBT rather than an introduction to SFBT in LGBTQI communities. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)