Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Helping couples and individuals identify the path forward
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) is amongst one of today’s most popular, influential, and broadly-used therapies in contemporary practice. SFBT offers a concentrated, team-based effort between couples and their therapist. As opposed to a collective, holistic approach, SFBT focuses on directive and problem-solving intervention methods that target specific reported symptoms. In other words, SFBT does not usually spend much time on a person’s past but, instead, focuses on current distress and its alleviation. Key words associated with the approach include (but are not limited to) self-development, growth, and self-responsibility.
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As a brief therapy, SFBT is rooted in a theory that posits that significant therapeutic gain and success can occur within a short period of time. In fact, the duration of services usually conclude after a few sessions —on average, 5-8 sessions or within 1-2 months. Therapy sessions are extremely goal-oriented. Concerned with change rather than assessing why the problems developed, SFBT is largely organized by two activities —Creating well-defined goals and developing solutions based on exceptions.
Clients are encouraged to engage in therapeutic conversations to examine the problematic situation(s). Therapists attend to the language used to describe the situation(s) and the conflict resolution clients hope to achieve. Led by the therapist but directed by client goals, possible solutions are constructed to reach those goals. Instead of “problem talk” therapists are pragmatic, minimalists that urge “solution talk” towards realistic resolution. Therapists use three types of questions to help empower their client(s) and to stimulate critical thinking. These include miracle questions, exception questions, and scaling questions.
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There is strong evidence that SFBT is an effective treatment for a variety of behavioral and psychological conditions; it’s also cost-effective, compare to alternative treatments. Outcome studies further reflect the efficacy of SFBT as clients quickly and effectively identify and remedy their challenges when therapy is initiated at the onset of emotional distress or before concerns continue to snowball. This approach results in cognitive change for clients. When the presenting complaint is alleviated, clients feel empowered to reconstruct his/her world view, as well as their sense of their own abilities to resolve, control, or contain problems.
*Similar to other modalities, SFBT solution-focused approaches are also effective for individuals and ideal for those faced with anxiety, stress, minor depression, addiction or substance abuse, low self-esteem, relationship issues, family conflict, a difficult life transition, etc.
