Eve Lipchik

Eve Lipchik (born August 2, 1931) is an Austrian-American psychologist. She was a member of the original team in the development of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT). The practice is a goal-directed collaborative approach to psychotherapeutic change that is conducted through direct observation of clients' responses to a series of precisely constructed interview questions. Lipchik is a certified member and approved supervisor of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, as well as co-founder of ICF Consultants, Inc., in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After retiring from active practice, Lipchik has taught, lectured and consulted in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia and Australia.

Early life and education Lipchik was born in Vienna, Austria, to Austrian-Jewish parents, Walter and Lily (Loebel) Seuer. She escaped the Nazi persecution and emigrated to the United States in 1940. At age 16, she received a bachelor's degree in English literature from New York University in 1951. For several years Lipchik worked in television production and as a translator. She pursued a postgraduate degree from University of Rochester in 1976 where she worked in play therapy. She also graduated with a masters in social work from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee in 1978. Instead, they concentrate on identifying clients' goals and developing a detailed description of life when the goal is reached, and the problem is either resolved or managed satisfactorily. To devise effective solutions, they examined clients' life experiences for "exceptions," or moments when some aspect of their goal was already happening to some extent. Eve brought in a unique emphasis on emotions and the importance of exploring those in SFBT.

Personal life Lipchik married Elliot O. Lipchik on August 30, 1953, and had three children. She lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is retired from active practice, but is still consults and provides SFBT training.

Honors and awards Lipchik has earned several awards for her research and clinical work, including recipient of the "Therapist of the Year" award from the Wisconsin Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and the Carl A. Whitaker Award. Other honors include the Distinguished Family Therapist Award from Edgewood College and an Honorary Fellowship from the Austrian Society for Systemic Therapy. In 2020, she won the Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy Theory & Practice Award from the American Family Therapy Academy (AFTA).

Selected publications Lipchik has authored two books and more than 35 articles, books chapters, and online publications. Interviewing (1988) Beyond Technique in Solution-Focused Therapy: Working with Emotions and the Therapeutic Relationship (2011) Multifaceted Approaches in Spouse Abuse Treatment (2008) My Story About Solution-Focused Brief Therapist/Client Relationships (1997) A consumer's perspective on domestic violence interventions (1993) The integration of emotion in solution-focused therapy (1993) Brief Therapy: Focused Solution Development (1986) The Purposeful Interview (1986)