1st Edition

Solution Focused Coaching in Asia History, Key Concepts, Development, and Applications

Edited By Debbie Hogan, Jane Tuomola, Sukanya Wignaraja Copyright 2025
314 Pages 19 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

314 Pages 19 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

314 Pages 19 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

Through inspiring stories illustrating the diverse application of coaching within Asian contexts, this data-rich volume dives into the theory and practice of Solution Focused coaching offering numerous tools and techniques that can be used immediately. With the rising demand for coaching across Asia, there is a need for coaches to have access to up-to-date practice-based evidence of its... Read more

SECTION 1

History and Philosophy of the Solution Focused Approach

1 Introduction to Solution Focused Coaching in Asia

DEBBIE HOGAN

2 History and Philosophy of the Solution Focused Approach

KIRSTEN DIEROLF

SECTION 2

Coaching in Organisations

3 Solutions for Change: Change Management and Solution Focused Coaching

JUAN PABLO LISDERO

4 Making Organisations a Better Place to Work: Through a Solution Focused Coaching Culture

KAPILA AHUJA

5 The Power of Coaching in Everyday Conversations

KAREN LEONG

6 Leaders Are Human Too! Scaling Coaching Systematically

ABHISHEK MEHTA AND SANDEEP JOSHI

SECTION 3

Executive and Leadership Coaching

7 Leadership Development in Asia Using Solution Focused Coaching

SAM CHIA

8 The Power of Imagination – The Future Perfect: Solution Focused Coaching in Hong Kong

YEE LIN NG

9 Leadership Coaching with Entrepreneurs in Malaysia

ALEX TAN AND JANE TUOMOLA

10 Solution Focused Executive Coaching in Taiwan

CHENG-TSENG LIN AND RU-YA CHANG

11 Solution Focused Coaching in Japanese Business Management: An Exploration through the Lens of

Culture

DAVID MACDONALD

12 Begin with the End in Mind: Growing as a Solution Focused Coach

JAIME ONG-YEOH

SECTION 4

Team Coaching

13 The Transformative Power of “And What Else?”: Team Coaching in Asia 101

DAVE HOGAN

14 Strengthening Organisations through Team Coaching

DEBBIE HOGAN AND JANE TUOMOLA

15 Solution Focused Team Coaching in Taiwan

CHENG-TSENG LIN AND RU-YA CHANG

viii Contents

SECTION 5

Life Coaching

16 Thriving through Transitions Using Solution Focused Coaching

JANE TUOMOLA

17 The Challenges of Decision-Making: A Case Study Using Solution Focused Coaching

SUKANYA WIGNARAJA

18 Addressing a Culture of Patriarchy: Using Solution Focused Coaching with Female Clients in China

JOSEPH WANG

19 Being at Your Best: Single Session Performance Coaching

CHRIS IVESON AND JANE TUOMOLA

20 From Shame to Freedom: Addressing Sexual Shame with Solution Focused Sex Coaching

DIAN HANDAYANI

SECTION 6

Coaching with Youths, Families, and Schools

21 Relationship Coaching: Co-constructing Views of Competence

DEBBIE HOGAN

22 Solution Focused Coaching of Teenagers in China: Taking a Friendly Guess

LAWRENCE LUO AND HUAJING YANG

23 Solution Focused Coaching in Education

EDWIN CHOY

SECTION 7

Health and Wellness Coaching

24 Solution Focused Coaching in Chronic Disease Management in China

LAWRENCE LUO AND HUAJING YANG

25 Adaptations of Solution Focused Coaching for Podiatry Clinical Practice: The Role of a Clinician-Coach

MARABELLE HENG, HELEN BANWELL, KERAN WEI, AND KRISTIN GRAHAM

26 Using Solution Focused Coaching in Chronic Pain Management

JESSE CAI

SECTION 8

Faith-Based Coaching

27 Accidental Coaching: Solution Focused Coaching in Ordinary Places

STEVEN NICAUD

28 Divine Outcomes: Solution Focused Coaching in Spiritual Contexts

DENNIS WELCH

SECTION 9

Career Coaching

29 Solution Focused Career Coaching: Through Envisioning the Perfect World

JOYCE WING TUNG TSE

30 Career Coaching Sessions Using the OSKAR Model

JULIE SAMUEL

SECTION 10

Novel Applications of Solution Focused Coaching

31 Using Visual Language with Solution Focused Coaching

CHEE SENG CHA

32 Solution Focused Graphic Coaching: Unlocking Solutions with Focus and Clarity

KEISUKE TAKETANI

33 How Solution Focused Sales Conversations Empower Buyers

BENNY TAN

34 Solution Focused Coaching for Incarcerated Fathers

EDWIN CHOY

SECTION 11

Final Reflections

35 The Difference That Makes a Difference: Reflections on Solution Focused Coaching in Asia

DEBBIE HOGAN, JANE TUOMOLA, AND SUKANYA WIGNARAJA

Biography

Debbie Hogan is an accredited coach, psychotherapist, accredited supervisor, trainer, and author. Having learned Solution Focused practice from the developers, Insoo Kim Berg and Steve de Shazer, she became inspired and has been training others since 2004, where she founded the Academy of Solution Focused Training in Singapore.

Jane Tuomola is an accredited coach, clinical psychologist, coaching supervisor, trainer, and author. She has been using Solution Focused coaching for 15 years and been based in Asia for over 10 years. She is keen to make sure her work is both culturally sensitive and evidence based, and aims to inspire others to do the same.

Sukanya Wignaraja is an accredited coach, psychotherapist, trainer, and author. She was drawn to Solution Focused practice by its powerful and transformative qualities, and has been practicing SF coaching and therapy for 15 years. She has lived in Asia for over two decades and is now in private practice in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

'What a valuable goldmine of ideas, innovations and connections for Solution Focused practitioners across Asia and indeed around the world. The chapters are short, the contexts specific, the examples telling, the skill evident – and the passion of all these SF workers is infectious. This book will be both a key piece in the developing SF jigsaw and also an inspiration to those in other parts of the world to write about their work and experiences.’

Dr Mark McKergow, Centre for Solutions Focus at Work Edinburgh, Scotland

‘This remarkable book offers fascinating examples of skillful, culturally respectful implementation of the Solution Focused coaching approach in a wide range of contemporary Asian settings. Readers will be inspired and uplifted by fresh, creative ideas for implementing SF coaching in a manner that simultaneously appreciates, embraces and productively incorporates clients’ unique individual contexts and cultural traditions. This book is a “must-read” for anyone seeking to enhance their skills and competence in SF coaching in diverse settings ranging from the emerging field of relationship coaching to education and business.’

Yvonne Dolan, Founding Director of the Institute for Solution-Focused Therapy, USA Co-founder of Solution Focused Brief Therapy Association (SFBTA) and the International Alliance of Solution-Focused Training Institute (IASTI)

‘This essential book is on the application of Solution Focused approach within the Asian context. A must read for any practitioners doing work in this region or wanting to better understand the systemic implications for people from this region. We live in a globalised society where we are more interconnected than ever before. As such, anyone in the helping profession has an ethical responsibility to both understand and examine how philosophies originating from the west apply in various parts of the world. This book is the first of its kind for Asia and a valuable read for all practitioners.’

Dr Saba Hasanie, Managing Director and Senior Partner OSC Leadership Development, Singapore

‘“It’s so Western! It won’t work in a culture that doesn’t share these individualistic values.” “Coaching is just to bring poor performers up to speed.” I have often heard this kind of comment about Solution Focused coaching and this book proves both of them wrong. Spanning a huge range of applications, including business and management, health, and everyday conversations, this book is a rich collection showing how SF coaching is taking root throughout Asia.’

Jenny Clarke, Partner, sfwork, Edinburgh, Scotland

‘This is an invaluable resource for solution focused methodology in action. It is a wealth of knowhow from practitioners who have taught, instilled and implemented positive change in individuals, leaders and organisations across various vocational settings. A must-read for those seeking to build thriving organisations and in everyday life.’

Koh Juat Muay, Chief at Nano-E, Singapore

‘This extraordinary collection offers valuable SF perspectives of how to be present with a client coming from an Asian heart.’

Peter Szabo, MCC, Switzerland

‘This is a must read book! The editors have provided an extraordinary range of applications of Solution Focused (SF) Coaching in Asia. The cases include examples of how SF Coaching is applied to leadership development, organisational development, and team coaching as well as career, health and wellness, family and faith based coaching. The applications across so many contexts gives testament to the range of issues that the SF approach can successfully be applied. However, this book should not be of interest to only SF coaches. It should also be read by anyone interested in learning more about coaching applications in Asia written by professionals who have extensive experience in the region.’

Hermann Ditzig, Founder and CEO of LeAD Consulting Group, Past President of ICF Singapore