Intake assessments vary in their focus on strengths and solutions compared with problems. They provide therapists with first impressions of their clients. Research shows that first impressions may have strong and lasting effects.

To compare how solution- versus problem-focused case descriptions influence therapists’ emotions and initial expectations for successfully working with a client.

Vignettes describing clients were manipulated to focus either on solutions and strengths, or on problems. In a within-subject experimental design, 33 (Sample 1) and 29 (Sample 2) trainee therapists each read four case descriptions (two solution-focused and two problem-focused vignettes; order fully counterbalanced). After each vignette, participants rated their affect and expectations for successfully working with the client.

In both samples, solution-focused vignettes were associated with significantly higher levels of positive affect and positive expectations for treatment, and with significantly lower levels of negative affect, compared with problem-focused vignettes. Effect size differences between conditions were generally large (Cohen’s d between .63 and 1.22).

Focusing on clients’ goals, their strengths, and actively highlighting better moments and areas of problem-free functioning may increase therapists’ positive emotions and their hope for clients’ successful treatment. A next step is to examine the degree to which these positive short-term effects are, in turn, predictive of better clinical outcomes in therapy. Future research could additionally examine whether supporting therapists to frame clients’ initial assessments in solution-focused ways may be one way to contribute to workforce well-being.

与问题相比，入学评估的重点是优势和解决方案。他们为治疗师提供了客户的第一印象。研究表明，第一印象可能会产生强烈而持久的影响。

比较以解决方案为中心的案例描述与以问题为中心的案例描述如何影响治疗师的情绪以及成功与客户合作的最初期望。

描述客户的小插曲被操纵，要么关注解决方案和优势，要么关注问题。在受试者内实验设计中，33 名（样本 1）和 29 名（样本 2）实习治疗师每人阅读四个案例描述（两个以解决方案为中心的小插图和两个以问题为中心的小插图；顺序完全平衡）。在每个小插曲之后，参与者都会评估他们对与客户成功合作的影响和期望。

在这两个样本中，与以问题为中心的小插图相比，以解决方案为中心的小插图与显着较高水平的积极情感和对治疗的积极期望相关，并且与以显着较低水平的消极情感相关。条件之间的效应大小差异通常很大（Cohen's d在 0.63 和 1.22 之间）。

关注客户的目标、他们的优势，并积极强调更好的时刻和无问题功能的领域，可能会增加治疗师的积极情绪和他们对客户成功治疗的希望。下一步是检查这些积极的短期效应在多大程度上可以预测更好的临床治疗结果。未来的研究还可以研究支持治疗师以以解决方案为中心的方式对客户进行初步评估是否可能是促进员工福祉的一种方式。