1. When might it be important to understand why problems develop? When might this not be important?  : It is important when it helps the client make sense of their experience. It helps to increase understanding and compassion. When it might not be as important: It is not always necessary for change, as the focus is on the client's strengths, goals and what's already working rather than in the cause of the problem. 

2. When a friend tells you about a problem, try to inquire about the exceptions. What did this experiment teach you? This experiment taught me that asking about exceptions actually shifts the conversation toward strengths and possibilities instead of only focusing on the problem. It helped made the problem seem more manageable. 

3. What are some practical differences between a negative goal (to get rid of something undesirable) and a positive goal (to make something good happen or have something happen more often):  Negative goal is for example "I want to stop feeling anxious", a positive goal is e.g. "I want to feel calm and confident". A positive goal already describes what a success looks like whereas a negative describes what should dissapear without defining what should be in its place. With a negative goal the direction to solution is less clear whereas a positive goal provides a clearer target to work toward and measure.

4. who are the people you would like to serve ...? I see myself using solution-focused therapy in an online private practice with individual clients. I would like to work with motivated, high-functioning people, such as professionals and executives, who are ready to find solutions and optimize their personal well-being, relationships, and performance.

5. What aspect of solution focused therapy do you find most challenging?
I think my biggest challenge would be working with clients who are deeply stuck and not yet ready to move toward solutions and are resistant to change or therapy, but in these situations it is important to find out if their situation serves a function for them and what their pace is. 

6. what are the other skills? Both therapy or a non therapeutic that you can bring to the table: 
I bring patience, empathy, and a non-judgmental attitude, which helps people feel safe talking to me. I also have strong conversational and listening skills, and I am naturally optimistic and strengths-focused. In addition, I tend to be curious, reflective, and good at helping people explore different perspectives and recognize patterns in their thoughts and relationships.