Problem solving therapy (PST) is a brief and focused psychological intervention that has been used with a variety of client groups including people with depression, chronic illness, and suicidal thoughts and behaviours.
We are researchers based in the Department of Psychological Medicine at the University of Auckland. For more details about us please see the About Us page.
Our team has designed a treatment programme and provided problem solving therapy for people who presented to the emergency departments of several major hospitals in New Zealand following an episode of self harm. Our results for this large-scale randomised controlled trial have indicated that PST resulted in reductions in hopelessness, suicidal thinking and depression, and improvements in problem solving abilities among people who received the therapy.
Following the study we received funding from the Ministry of Health to provide training in PST to clinicians in four district health boards.
Please note that this website is not intended to provide on-line training in PST but is designed to support the training programme. The worksheets on this website are intended to be used by clinicians who have attended the workshop and who are providing PST to their clients.
The video links show a demonstration of the steps of PST. We would like to thank Tessa Mitchell who plays the role of the client in these video clips.