The Gallery Model of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy 2.0 in Family Counseling: A pilot study of initial session effects

Objective: This pilot study examined the initial‑session effects of the Gallery Model—an explanatory metaphorical frame of Solution‑Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) 2.0 rather than a separate theory—in Korean family counseling. Methods: Eight adults experiencing marital or parent–child conflicts completed two sessions using the Gallery Model. A convergent parallel mixed‑methods design was employed. Quantitative measures were the Adult Dispositional Hope Scale, General Self‑Efficacy Scale, Working Alliance Inventory–Short Form, and Readiness for Therapy Questionnaire. Qualitative data were collected via post‑session interviews and brief session feedback. Results: Pre–post scores improved significantly across all measures (p<.05) with large effects (Cohen’s d) found for working alliance (d=1.17), self‑efficacy (d=1.12), hope (d=1.02), and readiness for therapy (d=0.94). Five qualitative themes emerged: expressing hope, rediscovering strengths/resources, the power of dialogue without tasks, trust in the counselor, and narrative authorship. Conclusions: The Gallery Model appears to facilitate rapid change in early sessions by supporting client‑led, description‑rich conversations that operationalize core SFBT principles. Findings are preliminary given the small, single‑group pilot design and should be interpreted accordingly.