This thesis seeks to provide insight into the experience of four counselling clients experiencing anx- iety, and of the researcher, with the doing something different technique in solution focused brief therapy (SFBT). It is intended to provide the reader with a small amount of rich qualitative data, which they can incorporate into their own understanding of how counselling may be experienced.

A case-study design within a qualitative framework was used to do this practice-based research. Data was analysed using Hatch’s (2002) method of inductive analysis. Key findings were: The do- ing something different task can be confusing, intimidating, and can give people “permission” to try to find solutions in new places, especially when they are “stuck” in non-useful attempted solutions. Themes regarding my development of skill with the task were around rationale for its use, verbal priming, scope of the task, presenting the task as “an experiment,” and seeking single or multiple ideas from clients for doing something different.

I discuss how youth and anxiety may change the way clients identify exceptions (which in turn changes whether they are likely to be asked to try doing something different); the types of doing something different task they come up with; and the difficulty and effort involved in doing the task. I also discuss how the research impacted my practice: through direct acquisition of skill and knowl- edge around anxiety and the doing something different task; through reflexivity and skill transfer; and also through its personal effect on me as a researcher-counsellor.