Different Approaches: The Medical Model vs. Solution-Focused Therapy

Over the past 2-3 decades how people with mental health issues can be helped has been significantly changed. It is only with the better research methods, and better understandings of how the brain and mind work, that have allowed professionals to develop and grow new approaches to helping people with mental health, and here in this article specifically anxiety. Here are some of the differences that exist.

• The medical model, which heavily influences traditional psychotherapy, views anxiety as a pathology, a problem to be diagnosed and treated. This approach focuses on identifying the nature of the problem, often through diagnosis, before intervening to reduce distress and suffering. The emphasis is on understanding the causes of anxiety, such as chemical imbalances, genetic predispositions, or past experiences, and then applying treatments, such as medication or problem-focused therapy, to alleviate symptoms.
• In contrast, SFT shifts the focus away from the problem and towards the solution. It does not require diagnosing the problem before proceeding with treatment. Instead of focusing on the past and the problem, SFT directs attention to the future and the desired outcome.

Here’s a table summarising the key differences between the two approaches:

While the medical model aims to recover from anxiety, which could be considered an avoidance goal, SFT focuses on helping clients achieve what they want instead of anxiety, an approach goal.

Importantly SFT doesn’t completely reject the medical model. SFT can be used in conjunction with biological treatments like medication. In such cases, SFT can help clients envision a positive future with the medication’s support and identify ways to enhance the medication’s effects.