Solution Focused Brief Therapy for people with aphasia

About the facilitator:

Dr Sarah Northcott is a Senior Lecturer at City, University of London in Speech and Language Therapy. She qualified as a Speech and Language Therapist in 2002, initially working in adult community services before completing a PhD at City, University of London. Her PhD led to an article on social networks post stroke that won the 2016 Editor’s Award of the Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research, language section.  Following her PhD, she explored how SLTs address the psychological needs of people with aphasia, and ways to make psychological therapy accessible for this client group. In 2016 Sarah was awarded the Stroke Association Jack and Averil (Mansfield) Bradley Fellowship Award for Stroke Research, which enabled her to lead the SOFIA Trial (Solution Focused brief therapy In post-stroke Aphasia), a feasibility randomised controlled trial.

Sarah has a Diploma in SFBT, and extensive experience of both using SFBT with people with aphasia, as well as training other healthcare professionals to use the approach. She has written journal articles on SFBT, a book chapter, and most recently has co-authored a book with Kidge Burns: ‘Working With Solution Focused Brief Therapy in Healthcare Settings: A Practical Guide’, published by Routledge in July 2022. Sarah has presented on SFBT at national and international conferences, including invited talks and workshops. She has also delivered training in five UK NHS trusts, the UK Aphasia Clinical Excellence Network, and co-trained the clinicians working on the SOFIA Trial. 

Structure of course:

Training will take place over two days, one week apart. Day 1 will introduce participants to core concepts and techniques while Day 2 will consolidate skills and knowledge, as well as deepening and expanding learning. Spacing the two days one week apart will enable participants to try out techniques, strategies, and approaches in their workplace, and then have a safe space to share their experiences in Day 2

****In addition, a follow up day will be offered six months later, to provide support, bolster learning, and develop skills further.

Learning outcomes:

DAY 1: Solution Focused Brief Therapy for people with aphasia: overview and introduction to core techniques

Aims: to introduce participants to core aspects of the approach when working with people with aphasia. It will discuss the rationale for learning Solution Focused Brief Therapy, exploring both the research evidence and the underlying assumptions of the approach. It will cover key techniques and strategies so that participants gain confidence in using the approach within stroke services.

By the end of Day 1, participants will:

• Understand the assumptions and philosophy underpinning the approach, and how these relate to their own values.
• Be able to use a solution-focused approach to co-construct meaningful and holistic goals for therapy.
• Develop ways to invite detailed future-focused descriptions which engage clients in making hoped-for changes in their everyday lives.
• Be able to use solution-focused techniques to elicit a client’s successful strategies, strengths, resources and resilience.
• Identify ways they can integrate the approach can work in their own clinical setting.

Day 1 provisional programme:

DAY 2: Solution Focused Brief Therapy for people with aphasia: challenges and opportunities of using the approach in healthcare settings

Aim: to consolidate and extend learning and explore ways of and implementing the approach into participants’ aphasia practice to maximise clinical, service and patient impact. This second day will be an opportunity for participants to reflect on their experiences implementing Day 1 learning into their working role, and talk through any challenges, as well as celebrate and learn from what has gone well. Day 2 will explore in more depth how to adapt the approach so that is accessible for people with aphasia, including severe aphasia. We will also explore ways of responding to someone who is distressed, including discussion of the scope of practice of HSCPs. Finally, we will discuss some of the challenges and opportunities of using SFBT within stroke services and settings. Following this Day 2 training participants will be able to:

• Use a range of strategies to facilitate people with aphasia accessing SFBT conversations.
• Understand different approaches to responding to distress, and an awareness of when to refer on to specialist services with reference to the stepped model of psychological care.
• Identify ways in which they can integrate SFBT into their everyday working role.
• Describe potential challenges to using SFBT within their own workplace, and ways to counter these barriers.
• Identify ways to gain ongoing support for themselves in addressing the emotional wellbeing of their clients.

Day Two provisional programme:

Both training days will use a variety of learning activities such as experiential learning, role plays, case discussion, watching videos of therapy sessions, reflective discussion. The content will be tailored to the interests and needs of participants. We will actively explore how participants can find support beyond the course to develop their skills and confidence further, including ways of accessing peer support.  

****Trainees will be offered a follow up day six months later, to provide support, bolster learning, and develop skills further.