Solution-focused approaches in the practice of UK educational psychologists: a study of the nature of their application and evidence of their effectiveness

Solution-focused approaches are increasingly widely used in the practice of the applied educational psychologist (EP) (Ajmal and Rees, 2001; Durrant, 1993; Redpath and Harper, 1999; Rhodes and Ajmal, 1995). Based on a small-scale computer-mediated exploratory survey, this article examines the nature of such practice and investigates whether and how solution-focused practice is evaluated and contributes to EPs' knowledge and skills base. The exploratory study is integrated into an overview of solution-focused therapy and a literature review of the application of solution-focused practice by EPs. Based on the review and analysis of the survey, the article proposes ways by which solution-focused practice can be evaluated by busy EP practitioners and therefore become potentially evidence-based.