Question:Question:

How does SFBT How does SFBT language work language work

in different contexts in different contexts ??

SFBT SFBT in the Balkan in the Balkan

contextcontext

European South,

or The Northern

Mediterranean region

The ApenninesThe ApenninesHow many states How many states

exist here ? exist here ?

33

Languages Languages spoken:spoken:

11

Religions: Religions:

11

The PyreneesThe Pyrenees

States:States:

44

Languages:Languages:

5 - 6 ?5 - 6 ?

Religions:Religions:

11

The BalkansThe BalkansStates:States:

12 - 13 ?12 - 13 ?

LanguagesLanguages::

20 – 30 ?20 – 30 ?

Religions:Religions:

??????

Elias Canetti :Elias Canetti :

Ruschuk was the Ruschuk was the first window first window through which I through which I observed all races, observed all races, listened to all listened to all languages, studied languages, studied all habits, and got all habits, and got to know all nations to know all nations that anyway got that anyway got along quite well in along quite well in this microcosm.this microcosm.

A Balkan man…A Balkan man…

Summer of 1944 Summer of 1944

Fall of 1944Fall of 1944

Winter of Winter of 1944/451944/45

Spring of 1945Spring of 1945

Summer of 1945Summer of 1945

Economy – GDP per Economy – GDP per capitacapita

Economic developmentEconomic development

Rapid, often unexpected changesRapid, often unexpected changes

Largely unplannedLargely unplanned

Often uncontrolledOften uncontrolled

Acquired skills can become Acquired skills can become uselessuseless

New skills need to be developedNew skills need to be developed

The habit of changing habits The habit of changing habits often useful often useful

Political Political environmentenvironment

- Continuing fragmentation of Continuing fragmentation of small countries into even small countries into even smaller onessmaller ones

- Different levels of state Different levels of state engagement in social mattersengagement in social matters

- Increasing influence of Increasing influence of European policies in the social European policies in the social fieldfield

A Bulgarian politician – A Bulgarian politician – Simeon Saxe-Koburg-GothaSimeon Saxe-Koburg-Gotha

1937 - 19431937 - 19431943 - 19671943 - 19671967 – 19871967 – 19871987 - 20011987 - 20012001 - 20052001 - 20052005 - 20082005 - 200820102010

Traditional way of help Traditional way of help searchsearch

Inside – outwards approach:Inside – outwards approach:

◄ ◄ Family ►Family ►

◄◄ ◄◄ Relatives ►►Relatives ►►

◄◄◄ ◄◄◄ Friends ►►►Friends ►►►

◄◄◄ ◄◄◄ Neighbors ►►►Neighbors ►►►

◄◄ ◄◄ ◄◄ ◄◄ Colleagues ►► ►►Colleagues ►► ►►

◄ ◄◄ ◄◄ ◄ ◄◄ ◄◄ Strangers ►►► ►►Strangers ►►► ►►

And only when natural groups fail in finding And only when natural groups fail in finding solutionssolutions

Professional helpers and institutionsProfessional helpers and institutions

Professional contextProfessional context

- Overall poor development of therapy & - Overall poor development of therapy & counselingcounseling

- Interest in fast working approaches- Interest in fast working approaches

- Uneven distribution of professional resources- Uneven distribution of professional resources

- Difficulties attending professional meetings- Difficulties attending professional meetings

- Domination of biological approaches to - Domination of biological approaches to therapytherapy

- Presence of naturally developed SF activities- Presence of naturally developed SF activities

Language contextLanguage context

Diversity of spoken languagesDiversity of spoken languages

Confusion over many categoriesConfusion over many categoriesInvalidation of definitions useful in the Invalidation of definitions useful in the

pastpast

High level of emotional expressionHigh level of emotional expressionCommon use of Tarzanian (body) languageCommon use of Tarzanian (body) language

Overall instability of meaning Overall instability of meaning (paradox)(paradox)

Implications for doing Implications for doing therapytherapy

In this region therapy needs to be:In this region therapy needs to be:

$ - Cheap$ - Cheap

♥ ♥ - Perceived as natural and close to - Perceived as natural and close to clientsclients

♪♫ ♪♫ - Fitting the extreme diversity of - Fitting the extreme diversity of culturescultures

⅞ ≤☺≥ ⅜ ⅞ ≤☺≥ ⅜ - Adaptive to personal needs- Adaptive to personal needs

≈ ≈ ? ≠ - Able to make use of meaning ? ≠ - Able to make use of meaning instabilityinstability

SFBT rumor in SFBT rumor in Bulgaria so far:Bulgaria so far:

Started 1993 – Dr. Anton Started 1993 – Dr. Anton KarshutskiKarshutski

Steve de Shazer and FKC team Steve de Shazer and FKC team

Two training centers in Sofia & Two training centers in Sofia & RuseRuse

EBTA 1997 Conference in SofiaEBTA 1997 Conference in Sofia

Trained professionals: 300 – 400 ?Trained professionals: 300 – 400 ?

Practicing the SF way: 60 – 70 ?Practicing the SF way: 60 – 70 ?

After getting in touch After getting in touch with it:with it:

Not interested – 20 % ?Not interested – 20 % ?

Using some of the techniques – Using some of the techniques – 60 % ?60 % ?

Mad about it – 20 % ? Mad about it – 20 % ?

Specific use of the SF Specific use of the SF approachapproach

- Referrals come mostly from friends and - Referrals come mostly from friends and relativesrelatives

- Personal relationship is valued over - Personal relationship is valued over methodmethod

- Scaling often gets answers between figures- Scaling often gets answers between figures

- Compliments tend to be used carefully- Compliments tend to be used carefully

- Asking questions for homework often - Asking questions for homework often better than behavioral tasksbetter than behavioral tasks

- End of therapy does not necessarily mean - End of therapy does not necessarily mean end of relationshipend of relationship

The dangers of going The dangers of going therethere

So:So:

How many of you come How many of you come

from a Balkan country ?from a Balkan country ?

How many have already How many have already

been there ?been there ?

Well then…Well then…

When When do you plan do you plan

your next your next trip trip

to the to the Balkans ?Balkans ?