Bill O’Hanlon and Jim Wilks, in their book “Shifting Contexts,” wrote:
“… now and then, in the course of a session, a hypothesis might accidentally enter a therapist’s head, and the best remedy for it is to lie down until it goes away.”
Today, I’d like to talk about this quote and share my thoughts on hypotheses in therapy from a Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) perspective.
First and foremost, I want to express my deep respect for everyone dedicating their time and energy to learning about human behaviour theories in great detail. There are countless ways to help people, and if some practitioners find value in their hypotheses and assumptions, practising from a place of deep conviction, that’s wonderful. The diversity in therapeutic approaches is a testament to the complexity of human experience.
In my practice, however, hypotheses about clients hold almost zero importance. This doesn’t mean my work is theory-free – there’s no such thing as neutrality in therapy or coaching. My blog posts, website content, and social media presence all aim to be open and transparent about the views close to my heart. These include the belief that every client has “hope” for change (evidenced by their very presence in a session), that we are all capable of transformation, that nothing is permanent, and that we all possess inherent capacities and qualities that enable us to move towards our goals.
It’s crucial to remember that “theory” is a collection of assumptions that have undergone rigorous testing but are not universal truths. My minor gripe arises when someone claims their way is the only way to help someone. Such claims stem from personal assumptions and hypotheses, not infallible facts.
This playful advice from O’Hanlon and Wilks resonates deeply with the SFBT approach. In SFBT, we’re not so much “hypothesis-allergic” as we are “solution-enthusiastic.” We prefer to sprint towards possibilities rather than lounge around with theories.
If I catch myself theorising during a session, I prefer to take a deep breath, revisit the principles of my work, and refocus on the client’s words instead of my inner voice droning on about theories. After all, when it comes to your life, the real expert isn’t an outsider with a pocketful of hypotheses – it’s you.
In the SFBT world, we have our own set of assumptions, of course. We assume that change is constant and inevitable, that clients have the resources to solve their problems, and that small changes can lead to bigger ones. But we hold these lightly, always ready to be surprised and delighted by our client’s unique perspectives and solutions.
In conclusion, while I deeply respect the diverse approaches in our field, I find that in my SFBT-inspired practice, the best hypothesis is often no hypothesis at all. Instead, I dive into the client’s world, swimming in their words, goals, and successes. Because at the end of the day, it’s not about what I think might be going on – it’s about what the client knows is possible.