Problem-Solving Therapy

Problem-solving therapy (PST) is a psychosocial intervention, generally considered to be under a cognitive-behavioral umbrella, that is geared to enhance one’s ability to cope effectively with both minor (e.g., chronic daily problems) and major (e.g., traumatic events) stressors in order to attenuate extant mental health and physical health problems. Rather than representing an updated volume of the theoretical and empirical literature on PST or social problem solving, the purpose of this book is to serve as a detailed treatment manual and to delineate general intervention strategies of contemporary PST that are required to effectively conduct this intervention approach. The book first briefly presents an overview of the theory underlying PST as well as the supportive research that documents its efficacy across various populations and clinical problems. Next, it offers an overview of problem-solving assessment and treatment planning as well as general clinical considerations. In order to achieve the treatment goals, the specific treatment objectives for PST can be thought of as: enhancing positive problem orientation, decreasing negative problem orientation, fostering planful problem solving, minimizing avoidant problem solving, and minimizing impulsive/careless problem solving. In order to achieve the treatment goals and objectives, PST focuses on training clients in four major problem-solving toolkits. The four toolkits include: problem-solving multitasking, the Stop, Slow Down, Think, and Act (SSTA ) method of approaching problems, healthy thinking and imagery, and planful problem solving. The book describes these toolkits and provides for detailed clinical guidelines in order to effectively conduct PST.