The Effectiveness of Training Female Social Work Students in the Use of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy Techniques in Developing Professional Intervention Skills in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The current study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of field training based on Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) techniques in developing professional intervention skills among female social work students. This was achieved by measuring the impact of the training program on enhancing several key skills, including assessment and evaluation, intervention planning, implementation, crisis management, guidance and counseling, and follow-up and evaluation.

The study employed a quasi-experimental design using a two-group (experimental and control) pre-test and post-test approach. The sample consisted of 24 students from the eighth level of the Social Work Department at King Saud University, evenly divided into two groups of 12 students each. The experimental group received a 14-week field training program, which included both theoretical and practical components based on SFBT techniques, while the control group underwent traditional training.

The researcher utilized a professional intervention skills test consisting of 60 statements distributed across the six targeted dimensions. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS with appropriate statistical methods. The results indicated statistically significant differences between the mean scores of the two groups in the post-test in favor of the experimental group in most skills, except for crisis management, which showed no significant difference. This confirms the effectiveness of the training program in enhancing the majority of targeted professional skills.

The study recommended the integration of short-term therapy models like SFBT into field training and the development of interactive supervisory and training programs that enhance students' ability to apply acquired skills in social work environments.