How can you use the "shifting focus" technique to explore client strengths?

1 What is shifting focus?

Shifting focus is a technique that involves redirecting the client's attention from a topic that is causing resistance or distress to a topic that is more positive, relevant, or engaging. Shifting focus can help the client feel more comfortable, respected, and hopeful, as well as reduce defensiveness and conflict. Shifting focus does not mean ignoring or dismissing the client's concerns, but rather acknowledging them and then moving on to a more productive area of discussion.

2 Why is shifting focus important?

Shifting focus is important because it can help you and your client avoid getting stuck in a cycle of negativity, frustration, or ambivalence. By shifting focus, you can help your client explore their strengths, values, and aspirations, which can increase their self-efficacy, confidence, and readiness for change. Shifting focus can also help you build rapport, trust, and empathy with your client, as well as demonstrate your flexibility, curiosity, and support.

3 How to shift focus effectively?

To shift focus effectively, you need to use a combination of skills, such as reflective listening, open-ended questions, affirmations, and summaries. You should begin by listening carefully to your client and identifying the source and level of resistance. Acknowledge and validate their feelings and perspectives without agreeing or disagreeing with them. Use a transitional statement to signal that you are going to shift the focus of the conversation. Ask an open-ended question that invites your client to talk about their strengths, resources, or goals. Reflect back your client's responses and affirm their positive qualities and efforts. Lastly, summarize what your client has shared and link it to the change process. Doing so will help you create a more meaningful dialogue with your client and facilitate the process of change.

4 When to shift focus?

Shifting focus should not be done haphazardly, but rather strategically and sensitively depending on the context and purpose of the conversation. It can be helpful in various scenarios, such as when your client is expressing high levels of resistance or distress, dwelling on the negative aspects of their situation, stuck in a loop of ambivalence or indecision, bored, distracted, or disengaged, or ready to move on to a different topic. In these cases, shifting focus can help balance their perspective, clarify values and goals, re-engage them, and facilitate a smooth transition.

5 What to avoid when shifting focus?

Shifting focus can be a powerful technique, but it can also backfire if used inappropriately or ineffectively. To avoid common pitfalls, make sure not to shift focus too frequently or abruptly, without acknowledging or validating your client's feelings or perspectives. Additionally, ensure that the topic of focus is relevant and appropriate, not too challenging, personal, or sensitive, and primarily about your client. Otherwise, your client may feel confused, ignored, dismissed, invalidated, bored, offended, disrespected, overwhelmed, exposed, threatened, alienated, patronized or judged.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?