Randomized controlled trial study examining positive emotions and hope in solution-focused brief therapy with substance using parents involved in child welfare system

ABSTRACT Objective This study examines whether parents involved in the child welfare system, due to substance abuse, who receive solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) counseling experience more hope and positive emotions than those receiving treatment-as-usual counseling services. Methods Randomized controlled trial design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of SFBT in primary substance use treatment services for parents (n = 123). Difference-in-Difference (DiD) estimation was used to assess the effect of SFBT intervention on hope, positive emotions, and negative emotions. Results DiD analyses showed SFBT parents had slightly worse scores on hope and emotion subscales at baseline and demonstrated slightly greater positive changes on all scales at posttest, though these findings were not statistically different from control group. Positive associations between SFBT and hope sub-scales were found; however, effects were not statistically significant. Conclusion SFBT may help increase positive emotions and hope in parents through a solution-building approach, but more research is needed.