Problem Solving
Problem Solving is a structured worksheet which encourages solution-focused thinking. Clients are encouraged to identify a problem, identify multiple potential solutions, then to take steps to put a solution into action.
Download or send
Choose your language
Professional version
A PDF of the resource, theoretical background, suggested therapist questions and prompts.
Premium Feature
To use this feature you must be signed in to an active Complete, Advanced, or Team account.
Client version
A PDF of the resource plus client-friendly instructions where appropriate.
Premium Feature
To use this feature you must be signed in to an active Complete, Advanced, or Team account.
Fillable version (PDF)
A fillable version of the resource. This can be edited and saved in Adobe Acrobat, or other PDF editing software.
Premium Feature
To use this feature you must be signed in to an active Complete, Advanced, or Team account.
Editable version (PPT)
An editable Microsoft PowerPoint version of the resource.
Premium Feature
To use this feature you must be signed in to an active Complete, Advanced, or Team account.
Translation Template
Are you a qualified therapist who would like to help with our translation project?
Tags
Languages this resource is available in
- Amharic
- Arabic
- Armenian
- Chinese (Simplified)
- Chinese (Traditional)
- Croatian
- Czech
- English (GB)
- English (US)
- French
- Georgian
- German
- Greek
- Gujarati
- Hindi
- Japanese
- Malaysian
- Polish
- Russian
- Sinhala
- Slovenian
- Spanish (International)
- Tamil
- Turkish
- Urdu
Mechanisms associated with this resource
Download or send
Choose your language
Professional version
A PDF of the resource, theoretical background, suggested therapist questions and prompts.
Premium Feature
To use this feature you must be signed in to an active Complete, Advanced, or Team account.
Client version
A PDF of the resource plus client-friendly instructions where appropriate.
Premium Feature
To use this feature you must be signed in to an active Complete, Advanced, or Team account.
Fillable version (PDF)
A fillable version of the resource. This can be edited and saved in Adobe Acrobat, or other PDF editing software.
Premium Feature
To use this feature you must be signed in to an active Complete, Advanced, or Team account.
Editable version (PPT)
An editable Microsoft PowerPoint version of the resource.
Premium Feature
To use this feature you must be signed in to an active Complete, Advanced, or Team account.
Translation Template
Are you a qualified therapist who would like to help with our translation project?
Introduction & Theoretical Background
Problem Solving is a helpful intervention whenever clients present with difficulties, dilemmas, and conundrums, or when they experience repetitive thought such as rumination or worry. Effective problem solving is an essential life skill and this Problem Solving worksheet is designed to guide adults through steps which will help them to generate solutions to ‘stuck’ situations in their lives. It follows the qualities of effective problem solving outlined by Nezu, Nezu & D’Zurilla (2013), namely: clearly defining a problem; generation of alternative solutions; deliberative decision making; and the implementation of the chosen solution.
The therapist’s stance during problem solving should be one of collaborative curiosity. It is not for the therapist to pass judgment or to impose their preferred solution. Instead it is the clinician’s role to sit alongside clients and to help them examine the advantages and disadvantages of their options and, if the client is ‘stuck’ in rumination or
Get access to this resource
View all plans and pricing options
Therapist Guidance
- The first step in problem solving is to identify a problem, difficulty, or dilemma which is bothering you, or about which you have been ruminating or worrying. Helpful things to ask yourself are:
- What is the nature of the problem?
- What are my goals?
- What is getting the way of me reaching my goals?
- The next step is to generate a range of possible approaches to solving your problem, ideally solutions which are designed to overcome the obstacles that have already been identified. At this stage your job is to think of as many potential approaches as possible, it does not matter how outlandish or unworkable they may be. Generate at least three potential solutions. Consider:
- “Can you think of any ways that you could make this problem not be a problem any more?”
- “What’s keeping this problem as a problem? What could you do
Get access to this resource
View all plans and pricing options
References And Further Reading
- Beck, A.T., Rush, A.J., Shaw, B.F., & Emery, G. (1979). Cognitive therapy of depression. New York: Guilford. Nezu, A. M., Nezu, C. M., D’Zurilla, T. J. (2013). Problem-solving therapy: a treatment manual. New York: Springer.
Get access to this resource
View all plans and pricing options
