A solution-focused coaching approach to promote adolescent mental well-being in a school setting

Solution-focused brief coaching departs from the idea that a focus on the clients’ strengths and hopes for the future, rather than on past or present problems, will lead them to do more of what works well and move them toward a desired future. Compared to a problem-oriented approach, the solution-focused is systemic and interactive; the client is viewed as a resourceful individual in a context and as an expert on his or her own life. From this foundation, the Solution-focused Intervention for mental health (SIM) was developed for students in upper secondary school. SIM builds upon four fundamental assumptions. First, an understanding of the cause of a personal problem does not necessarily bring the student closer to a solution of it, or to a desired future. Second, what we focus our attention on and the language we use to describe and discuss our health will grow on us. Third, all students “want to and can do something” that can lead them towards their desired future. Fourth, all students are resourceful and can act in a self-desired direction. During the coaching process in SIM, what the students “hope will start to happen and resources and abilities that can make this possible” are explored and reinforced with a solution-focused dialogue. With support from a group coach and their classmates, students are encouraged to explore what could help towards a desired future and what efforts need to be taken to move in this direction. This is followed up in future sessions by focusing on what works well and efforts made towards what is wanted. The solutions-focused coaching approach, and its associated techniques, aim to engage the students in a process that enhances the awareness and motivation to explore their own strengths and resources so as to engender self-efficacy and self-confidence and strengthen their desire to further develop their abilities and skills. The objective of the process is to establish a mental health promotion that is positively self-reinforcing.