Peer Resources: Interactive Problem Solving Model Pilot

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coaching problem solving

Interactive Problem Solving Model Pilot

Some people are very clear about a concern and can describe it with precise detail. Others experience more difficulty articulating a concern. Often we know that something requires a change in our lives and we are motivated to take action, but we need to gain more precision as to just what it is that is of concern to us. The following steps have been designed to help you assess your current concern, construct a clear statement regarding the concern, and determine what steps are necessary to initiate successful and effective resolution.

STEP ONE
In the following steps you will be asked to provide a simple statement that describes your present concern or situation. This first statement will probably not be very clear or concise. In fact, part of the difficulty in dealing with a concern is that it is hard to pin down just what the concern is.

Take some time now to describe your concern or situation as it seems to you now. You need not worry about coherence, style, or clarity. Try instead to write "off the top of your head:"

STEP TWO
Now that you have written down how the concern seems to you at this point, it is useful to determine how much more you need to do to resolve your concern.

If you wrote about the concern as something which is bad or unacceptable in general, but has no bearing on you personally, you are thinking in Stage #1. If you wrote about your concern and how it impacts on you, then you are thinking in Stage #2.

STEP THREE
Looking at the words you have actually written in connection with STEP ONE, determine whether your statement is Stage #1 or Stage #2.

For the most part, my statement is now in:
Stage #1
Stage #2

If you have selected Stage #1, then go on to Step Four.
If you have selected Stage #2, then to on to Step Five.

STEP FOUR
If your statement was in Stage #1, it did not describe your concern as your concern. You can move on to Stage #2 by restating the concern in terms of how you are involved in it. You can probably do this answering the question: "How is this problem of concern to me?" or "How am I concerned about it?"

If I were to restate the concern, this time emphasizing how it is of concern to me, I would say that...

STEP FIVE
Look again at the concern as you describe it now. If you talk about how it is of concern to you, but not about how you feel and react in the situation, you're thinking in Stage #2. But if you also talk about your feelings and reactions, you're thinking in Stage #3.

STEP SIX

For the most part, my statement of concern is in:
Stage #2
Stage #3

If your statement is in Stage #2, go on to STEP SEVEN.
If your statement is in Stage #3, you may scan STEP SEVEN and answer it if you wish, and then go on to STEP EIGHT.

STEP SEVEN
You can progress to Stage #3 by writing about your concern again, this time emphasizing how you feel and react in the situation.

Focusing now on my feelings and reactions, I would say that...

STEP EIGHT
Stage #4, which is one of the key stages in the understanding and resolution of a concern, is the recognition by the individual of his or her contribution or the ways in which his or her own behaviour adds to the problem situation. If your statement includes recognition of how you help to create or continue your concern, then you are in Stage #4.

STEP NINE
Looking at your statement of the concern up to now, ask yourself whether you have explored sufficiently your own contribution to the concern in terms of the things you do (or neglect to do) which might be adding to the concern. If you have already done this, scan STEP TEN, answer it if you wish, and then go on to STEP ELEVEN.

STEP TEN
Restate your concern to reflect Stage #4.

The concern as I see it now, including recognition of what I am doing or neglecting to do, is as follows...

STEP ELEVEN
When you have gone through Stages 1 to 4 in your thinking about your concern, you may find that you now have a clearer, more useful way of looking at it. You may also find that some of your feelings about the situation have changed or are beginning to change. This could mean that negative, uncomfortable feelings become less intense or less upsetting.

STEP TWELVE
As a result of this analytical process, the following changes in my awareness and my feelings have taken (or are taking) place:

STEP THIRTEEN
Another result of going through Stages 1 to 4 is that you may begin to determine specific changes in your behaviour, feelings, or thinking which might be appropriate. You may also identify particular things you may need to do such as a consult a specialist in a particular area to gain further information, support, knowledge, insight, understanding, or action ideas.

STEP FOURTEEN
In relation to the concern as I've described it and any changes in awareness and feelings which I'm experiencing, the following specific actions would be appropriate:

To keep a record of your thoughts and solutions, just print out this page.

Thanks for participating in this pilot project. We would like to know your reaction to trying this method. Please send your comments to Rey Carr at rcarr@peer.ca. Comments will be treated as confidential. We do not need to know what you were concerned about, but we would like to know your thoughts about this method.