Counseling Toward Solutions

The site for School Counselors, Teachers and Mental Health Providers to Learn the Solution Focused Approach

Linda Metcalf, PhD

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Author, Consultant

Linda S Metcalf PhD
Fort Worth, TX
ph: 817- 690-2229
lmetcalf@txwes.edu

Thank you for visiting my website. I have been working with children, adolescents, families and individuals for over twenty years. I am a solution focused therapist.

What is the difference between working with a solution-focused therapist and a problem-focused therapist? Both are fine ways to work, but there are big differences. Here are some common experiences that my clients report to me that they notice about our work together.

1. "I left feeling that there was hope, finally. I didn't have to go back through the past, which I had dreaded. Instead, we talked about the future."

2. "It was good to know that other people in my family could work on things that would help us all...it wasn't just me."

3. "You made me realize that my child really is a good kid."

4. "We had two sessions with you and we learned more about how to get along than we did in a year with another therapist."

5. "From the first day, you helped us with goals and solutions...there was no delay."

How does this happen? It begins by my asking you, my client, what you would like to be different in your life. After all, you will probably work on something that is your idea, right? That is why this model works so well with children and adolescents...they want to be heard. What they realize while working is that they are heard better when they try out new behaviors. As for families, I believe that even if your family is feeling out of control, the fact that you call me means you want to be in control.

My practice is to help you see the future you want and to identify the strengths you already have to get there, glancing back to a preferred past where things worked better.

Below, you will find some books that I have written to help you make your decision on counseling. To the right is specific counseling information for you to review.

Linda Metcalf, M.Ed., PhD

817-690-2229

Thank you for visiting my website. Below, you will find out where I am presenting next. If you are a future client for counseling, please scroll down to Counseling Services.

-Thanks,

Linda Metcalf, PhD

Next Speaking Engagement: Impossible Cases: Solution Focused Ideas for Working With Children and Adolescents:

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Time: 9 am-1 pm

$45 for 4 CEU's

Presented with Michael Flores, LPC

Location to be announced soon.

NEW workshops for fall:

Top Ten Solution Focused Ideas for School Counselors

Top Ten Classroom Management Ideas forTeachers that Motivate Students and Engage Parents

Ethics as a Tool for School Counselors

Solution Focused RTI

Counseling Toward Solutions: The Basics

***To learn what each workshop covers, click on Workshops for Schools on the right

Counseling Services:

Thanks for visiting my website. If you are seeking counseling services, you may find my approach different than other therapists. I use a solution focused approach, which views every client as competent, and encourages me to look past pathology and problems and discover together, with you, the client, times when you were more competent and successful. This approach does not ignore the past, but instead, seeks to learn from the past how you have survived, coped and dealt with other situations. These discoveries reveal your strengths and help us to form strategies for the current situation. As a result, counseling is often brief and you leave feeling as if things are not as bad as you thought, with tools to use for the next week or two.

I have been a marriage and family therapist for over twenty years and enjoy working with individuals, families, children and adolescents. My practice is located on the Texas Wesleyan Campus in Fort Worth, Texas, where I am a tenured Professor of Education. I offer the following services to clients:

Individual therapy with adults, adolescents and children, ages 5-12

Marriage counseling

Family Therapy

My work as a solution focused therapist allows me to work with virtually any issue brought to therapy from drug or alcohol abuse, sexual abuse, depression, transition issues, grief and loss, anger and anxiety. Most of my clients complete therapy within six sessions.

In addition, I also offer:

School consulting for behaviorally or academically challenged students, grades 1-12 based on a solution focused approach. I frequently visit schools where my client attends so that I may understand the system involved in the client's life and meet face to face with teachers.

On site consulting and training for agencies, schools, hospitals and community outpatient programs on utilizing a solution focused approach. See SERVICES.

Texas Wesleyan University

The Glick House Counseling Center

3001 Avenue D

Fort Worth, TX 76105

817-690-2229

I am the Editor and Co-Author of Marriage and Family Therapy, A Practice Oriented Approach, Springer Publishers, 2011.

What is Solution Focused Therapy?

Solution focused therapy focuses on the strengths and abilities of people instead of on the problems that intrude in their lives. By creating goals with the client through a variety of questions including "the miracle question" clients work efficiently to accomplish what they want different in their lives.

Children and adolescents benefit from the approach as well, particularly when bothered by habits of anger, sadness and trauma. By "externalizing" the problem, the client, along with Dr. Metcalf begins to discover ways to keep the habit away. This narrative therapy approach, pioneered by Michael White is a very helpful approach.

About Dr. Metcalf

Dr. Linda Metcalf is a licensed marriage and family therapist and uses a solution focused approach when working with clients. Dr. Metcalf is the author of 9 books on solution focused therapy and one book on marriage and family therapy. She has been in private practice over 20 years. See the "books" link above to view her books.

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Fees: $100 per hour

Cash, credit card, check

*Dr. Metcalf will assist clients with insurance by filling out their claim forms so they may be reimbursed for the fee.

To schedule, call:

817-690-2229

or Email: lmetcalf@txwes.edu

_____________________

Neither Texas Wesleyan University, the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, nor any other individual or organization mentioned here is in any way responsible for, nor do they necessarily endorse, any content on this website.

Any opinions are mine, and any errors, omissions, or misrepresentations are my responsibility alone.

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Linda S Metcalf PhD
Fort Worth, TX
ph: 817- 690-2229
lmetcalf@txwes.edu