During Solution-Focused Therapy, what does the Exception Question aim to uncover?

The Exception Question in Solution-Focused Therapy is designed to help clients identify times in their lives when their problems were less severe or less impactful. By uncovering these exceptions, therapists aim to highlight the client's strengths and resources that can be utilized to facilitate change. This approach encourages individuals to focus on solutions rather than problems, promoting a more optimistic outlook, as clients can envision times when they successfully managed their issues.

Understanding and discussing past instances when the problem was not as troublesome allows clients to recognize their coping strategies and reinforces the idea that change is possible. This technique is central to the Solution-Focused approach, as it steers away from a problem-centered narrative and instead emphasizes positive experiences and resilience, which are critical for therapeutic progress.

Options focusing on happiness, anxiety, or hopelessness do not align with the intent of the Exception Question, as they either delve into emotions or states not directly related to the therapeutic focus of recognizing moments of exception to the problem.