The author of this paper, who is a teacher at a school for special needs education for handicapped and sickly children, used the solution-focused approach (SFA) on students to examine the effects of the following three practices: (1) Communication with students using the SFA, (2) Health check using the SFA, and (3) a social skills training (SST) class through use of the SFA. The results showed improved subjectivity, self-affirmation, and expressive abilities of the students. The students also generated solutions for their own problems. Teachers are familiar to students and can, therefore, use the SFA in daily relationships. The results suggest that it is important for teachers to use the SFA.

Qualitative assessments have been important in counseling, but they have become important in career counseling in recent years. This paper reveals the utility of using qualitative assessments in career counseling by studying counseling cases of a university student, a worker, and a graduate student. Results revealed that qualitative career assessments were effective for short-term career counseling. On the other hand, using homework or supportive and collective techniques were required when a client had lack of experience or confidence.

An educational counseling workshop conducted for childcare workers is reported. The workshop was designed based on brief therapy for promoting self-efficacy by utilizing the resources of childcare workers. Childcare workers (N=94) participated in the workshop. The usefulness of the workshop was evaluated by examining its operations, and the changes in self-rating scale scores that assessed self-efficacy for treating children’s problem behaviors.