A Guide to Possibility Land: Fifty-One Methods for Doing Brief, Respectful Therapy

by Sandy Beadle, Bill O'Hanlon

When was the last time you read a book to improve your professional skills and had fun at the same time? For people interested in the latest developments in brief, solution-oriented therapies, and for any who want to improve their therapeutic skills without unnecessary toil, A Guide to Possibility Land is a terrific introduction to the territory. Possibility therapy, originated by Bill O’Hanlon, is about acknowledging and validating clients’ felt experience and ideas about their lives while ensuring that possibilities for change are discovered and amplified. A Guide to Possibility Land outlines this humorous, compassionate approach to action-oriented therapy in a lively and accessible text. Each method is defined, explained, and illustrated, all in a page or two. By the book’s end the reader is empowered with a huge selection of strategies and an enlightening map of possibility land.

Genres: Psychology, Counselling, Nonfiction

96 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1999

Reviews

[Sheri]

A friend at work recommended as a quick read that is full of good suggestions for brief interventions. I found a used copy online for cheap and decided to grab it.

It is definitely quick and easy and does have many good suggestions. However, I found that most of the stuff recommended are things that I already do, but instead of calling in possibility therapy I call it MI (motivational interviewing), CBT (cognitive behavior therapy), or DBT (dialectic behavior therapy), or simply meeting the client where they are at.

In 1997, when this was published it might have been groundbreaking, but today feels like just a summary of EBP that are already is use (and have literature to support their use).

I wouldn't not recommended it, but also do not see it as especially profound.

[Lily]

More of a practical workbook than something to read, but I liked the simple, effective interventions offered.

[Ender]

I drew largely from this book to define the way that I practice therapy. Although cheesy (no offense, Bill), O'Hanlon's spin on Solution-Focused Therapy is refreshing. A practical guide full of intervention ideas with a little philosophical justification.

[Melvin Marsh]

This is primarily a possibility therapy / solution oriented / solution focused brief therapy. It gives several different options for how to work with clients.