I met with a student who felt very anxious about school. She struggled to control the impulse to talk, and when told off, would often answer back, causing ongoing conflict with staff. The stress of this would then spoil her whole day. Her Best Hope was to feel more relaxed about school and more accepted. I completely left it to her to come up with things she could do to help the situation, and I was bowled over by the ideas she had: putting out her equipment ready for a lesson without being asked; saying nothing at all so as not to risk talking back; and deciding to agree with the teacher.
Things began to improve and when I asked ‘What has been better?’ there was plenty to report. In our fifth session, the student announced that she had thought about it over the weekend and decided ‘just to think more positively about everything’. This was not something I had ever suggested! She managed to keep to this attitude, developing her excellent self-talk along the way. I was particularly impressed when she had a blip and was sent out of a lesson, but still didn’t give up, instead continuing to think positively.
When we ended our sessions, she had gained a huge amount of confidence in her ability to cope and was more relaxed and positive about school and life in general. I was glad that I had trusted in a completely solution-focused approach, as she could then see that her amazing turnaround was completely thanks to her own qualities and initiatives.