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How To Become a Solution-Focused Coach? Solution-Focused Coach

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How To Become a Solution-Focused Coach?

How To Become a Solution-Focused Coach? Solution-Focused Coach /  

The solution-focused approach emphasizes helping your clients through a goal-oriented approach. A solution-focused coach will often look for solutions to existing problems with the help of various methods and by understanding the root cause of the problem. Each solution-focused coach also believes in the capabilities of their client and aims to utilize their existing skills sustainably.

How To Become a Solution-Focused Coach? Solution-Focused Coach

There are many more aspects of solution-faces coaching. In this article, we will discuss them in detail. 

What is solution-focused coaching?

Solution-focused coaching is defined as a competence-based, goal-directed approach (O’Connell and Palmer, 2008) it highlights the importance of looking for solutions rather than focusing on problems. It is a strength-based approach and is often used as a counseling technique to help people approach different perspectives while dealing with specific situations. In this way, Solution-focused coaching help people understand actions and consequences better.

What does a solution-focused coach do?

In solution-focused coaching, the client and the coach, work closely together to figure out what the goals, framework, and objectives should be. The client is responsible for their own objectives because the coach honors the client as the expert in their life, thereby knowing what is best for them. A solution-focused coach is of the opinion that every client is resourceful, creative, strong, and whole. Based on this, the solutions-focused coach’s responsibility is 

  1. Encourage client self-discovery through various methods.
  2. Explore, discover, confirm and work towards achieving the client’s goals whether short or long-term.
  3. Come up with solutions and strategies with the help of the client.
  4. Remember to treat the client as a responsible autonomous being who can decide their own objectives.
  5. Holding the client accountable in order to achieve desired results.

What are the benefits of a solution-focused coach?

Since Solution-focused coaching emphasizes resilience, inner strength, and the resources people possess to achieve their goals, it is definitely one of the more popular approaches. There are many benefits to making use of a solution-focused coach. Let’s discuss some of them below.

  1. SF can help you achieve your goals

Throughout our lives, we make all sorts of goals for ourselves. Making goals is easy, the actual problem comes when you have to follow through with the goals. To achieve what you want, you have to be diligent, consistent, and willing to try your best. Along with this, you need to be focused. These are all the things that solution-focused coaching emphasizes. If you are looking for ways to achieve your goals, look no further than Solution-Focused coaching.

  1. Goal-oriented

As we discussed above, solution-focused coaching helps you achieve all your goals. The question is, how is this a good thing? Sure, solution-focused coaching is goal-oriented, but is this exactly the best option? Why should we focus on our goals in the first place? Before we move forward let us talk about the benefits of being goal-oriented. You might have heard that successful people are those who remain goal-oriented. That is because setting goals help guide your focus and trigger new behavior, along with providing you with sustainable motivation and momentum. Being goal-oriented helps you progress with so much ease, which is why Solution-focused coaching being goal-oriented is a huge win. 

  1. Helps find solutions to problems

As the name suggests, solution-focused coaching tries to successfully deal with each problem you might have by coming up with sustainable solutions that play on your strengths, endurance, and skill level. But at the end of the day, the result is perfect, because it hits the nail right on the head when it comes to a crisis. 

  1. Improves your relationships

Solution-focused coaching can be a great help in your relationships by taking them to the next level. It simply helps you identify what is working in your relationship and what isn’t. A solution-based coach will help you manage your expectations, along with helping you do what is already working. 

Solution-focused coaching helps enhance your listening skills and improve your ability to communicate. These skills can then be used to determine solutions to existing problems and improve your relationships. After all, good communication is critical to a happy, healthy, and satisfying relationship.

  1. SF coaching is a positive and supportive process

Sharing many similarities with the field of positive psychology, Solution-focused coaching is a supportive process that encourages empathy and affirmation. Along with recognizing and reinforcing already held skills in order to help the client realize their existing knowledge, skills, and capability.

What qualifications are needed to become a solution-focused coach?

A solution-focused coach will often need to get a certification. This is known as The Certified Solution-Focused Coach (CSFC). It is a professional designation, which entitles the owner to affix the letters CSFC after their name. 

There are a few basic requirements in order to become a CSFC. First off, you will need a relevant basic undergraduate degree, Next, you will need coaching training that is specifically centered around solution-focused coaching. You will also need a suitable number of practice hours. Each applicant must complete at least 125 hours of coaching practice. Furthermore, working under supervision and membership in a professional coaching organization (if applicable) that follows professional practice standards and has a code of ethics, is also a requirement. 

Experience can be reflective practice, clients or peer coaching, observational learning, etc. a minimum of 75 hours must be paid coaching, wherein the client has worked face to face with clients.

What skills are required to be successful as a solution-focused coach?

Of course, oftentimes skills are what make or break a successful solution-focused coach. Let us discuss the required skills you will need in order to be a successful solution-focused coach.

  1. Analytical Skills

In order to be a good solution-focused coach, you need to sharpen your analytical skills. You will need these in order to discern what goals might be appropriate for the client, and the best way to achieve these goals with the help of their specific strengths. You must also be able to gauge patterns, in order to know which are healthy, and which should be eliminated.

  1. Active listening

Active listening is another important skill for a solution-focused coach to have. When a coach takes part in active listening, it established trust between the coach and the client and creates a foundation of empathy. Active learning is a very important factor in establishing a positive and fruitful relationship. With the help of this trust and active listening skills, the coaches are more easily able to draw out the core of problems. This will aid in coming up with solutions that have a bit more depth to them

  1. Questioning techniques

Solution-focused coaches need to be flexible in their approach. This is why they need to be adept at a number of questioning techniques. Some of them are listed below

  • The miracle questions.
  • Scaling questions.
  • Exception questions.
  • Coping questions.
  • Problem-free talk.
  • Do one thing differently.
  1. Giving and receiving feedback

A solution-focused coach needs to be good at giving and receiving feedback. Partly in order to encourage communication, and partly to be able to clearly figure out what is working for the client and what isn’t. The only set thing in solution-focused coaching is that change has to take place. All other factors are flexible and often modified based on the results, which is why being good at giving and receiving advice is imperative

  1. Setting boundaries

Within any client-coach relationship setting boundaries is important of course, In this case, it helps the client learn to trust themselves and stand on their own feet. While making sure that they realize the importance of their own inner strength and skill

  1. Managing emotions

A solution-focused coach must learn to be good at managing emotions and expectations to ensure the client keeps a realistic view of their goals and the likelihood of achieving them. In order to stay away from useless heartbreak upon setting unattainable goals.

What are the certifications to become a solution-focused coach?

The certification required is known as the ‘Certifies Solution-Focused Coach’. An applicant must have an undergrad degree in a relevant field along with certification provided by the CCPC examining board. They must have completed Solution-Focused coaching-specific training from an accredited program along with an adequate number of training hours.

How much does a solution-focused coach earn?

The actual amount can vary from person to person. Depending on their qualification and their experience. Although most Solution-faced coaches charge around $175 to $125 per hour. Although it can go as high as $150 per hour or as low as $50 per hour.

What are solution-focused coaching methods?

There are different methods involved in solution-focused coaching, ultimately all of them work together to achieve results. The first and possibly most important method is Goal clarification, after this comes highlighting the exception, i.e., guiding the client to a point in their life where there is an exception to the problem.

After this, the most often used method is the ‘miracle question’ method. Which helps the client move into solution orienting by taking small steps.

Another often used method is the experiment invitation, which is a way or the coaches to guide their clients into solution orientation.

Tips for becoming a solution-focused coach

There is no one way to be a good solution-focused coach. The only way you can be successful in this line of coaching is if you remember to be flexible. Do whatever it is you have to do to achieve your goals. However, here are some tips to help you be a good solution-focused coach

  1. Ask the questions to get to the right answer
  2. Empower your client, trust that they know best for themselves
  3. Be willing to provide an open and trusting space for them
  4. Keep your client focused on the goal
  5. Know when you need to step in and take action
  6. Know when to let your client take the reins
  7. Ask for feedback to know what’s working
  8. Be communicative with your client
  9. Focus on the client’s strengths
  10. Do not play the blame game

What is the difference between solution-focused coaching and traditional therapy?

Although Solution-Focused coaching is often referred to as solution-focused therapy and is technically considered to be another form of psychotherapy, there are still a plethora of differences between solution-focused coaching and traditional therapy.

To begin with, traditional therapy focuses majorly on the problem at hand. It requires a clear, detailed description of the problem whereas Solution-focused coaching instead puts time and effort into coming up with possible solutions and the most minimal amount of time into describing the current problem. 

Secondly, solution-focused coaching puts emphasis on the clients’ present and future, rather than their past experiences. This is another major difference and sets it apart from traditional forms of therapy. And lastly, solution-focused coaching is a goal-oriented type of therapy that places focus on the final results in order to bring about positive change.

Conclusion

In conclusion, if you are looking for coaches, you can never go wrong with a solution-based coach. Because of the proper accreditation option, you can rest easy knowing your coach has the proper training and experience required to help you reach your goals in a structured and efficient manner.

Frequently asked questions

What are some of the most common myths about Solution Focused Coaching?

There are a number of myths about solution-focused coaching, let us discuss some of the more common ones
Myth number 1#
Solution-focused coaching forbids talk of the past
It doesn’t if talk of the past is what is important and needed, it is certainly not forbidden, in fact, it can help the process, provided the past is discussed in relevance.
Myth number 2#
The solution-focused approach is only about solving problems.
Well, yes and no. It is about solving problems but in order to do that we need to know the causes of the problems, ways we can overcome them, etc. not just the problem in isolation.

The future of solution-focused coaching?

The future of solution-focused coaching is bright. As more and more realize this is not simply a method employed within therapy but is instead an entirely new approach that can do wonders by moving forward in an organized and goal-oriented way.

ABOUT SAI BLACKBYRN

I’m Sai Blackbyrn, better known as “The Coach’s Mentor.” I help Coaches like you establish their business online. My system is simple: close more clients at higher fees. You can take advantage of technology, and use it as a catalyst to grow your coaching business in a matter of weeks; not months, not years. It’s easier than you think.

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