Solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) is a strength-based approach to psychotherapy that emphasizes problem-building rather than problem-solving. In order to come up with an immediate and workable answer to one’s issues, SFBT focuses on analyzing one’s hope for the future and finding solutions in the here and now. SFBT is a goal- and future-focused interviewing technique that aids clients in “building solutions.”

SFBT was developed in the 1970s and 1980s by husband and wife Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg at the Brief Family Therapy Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Although not a cure for psychiatric disorders such as depression or schizophrenia, SFBT helps improve quality of life for those who suffer from these conditions.

How it works

Goal-setting is the foundation of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy. A solution-focused approach might involve, for instance, asking the parents of a child displaying behavioral issues about the instances when the child misbehaves, asking the parents to identify the exceptions—the times when the child behaves well—and inviting the parents to consider how they may have contributed to these exceptions. When parents identify potential causes of the exceptions, therapists concentrate on maintaining and enhancing what is effective.

Techniques

In a solution-focused therapy session, the practitioner and client will work collaboratively to set goals and find solutions together, to overcome the problem or issue.

The practitioner will enquire in order to comprehend the client’s underlying strengths and resources, which they may not have previously recognized. In order to shift the client’s focus to a more solution-oriented, optimistic outlook rather than ruminating on the problem unaware of the strengths and abilities that they do have, the practitioner will also use complimentary language to bring awareness to and support the strengths that the client does have.

Sessions are often offered once a week for six to twelve weeks, lasting between 50 and 90 minutes, however they can be as short as 15 to 20 minutes. They can also be given as standalone, one-time sessions.

These techniques include the miracle question, coping questions, exceptions to the problem, compliments, and using scales. These are:

1.      The Miracle Question

The practitioner will instruct the client to envision going to bed and waking up the next morning with all of their issues solved. Following this visualization, they will question the client how they are certain that the problems or issues are no longer there and what specifically has changed.

For example: ‘Imagine that when you next go to sleep, a miracle takes place during the night, so that when you wake up in the morning, feeling refreshed, your problem has vanished. I want to ask you how do you know that your problem has gone? What is different about this morning? What is it that has disappeared or changed in your life?’

After visualizing what it could be like to wake up without the problem, this inquiry can assist to identify and obtain a clearer knowledge of what the problem is, how it is hurting the person, and can create motivation to desire to go forward and conquer it.

2.      Coping Questions

The practitioner will ask coping questions to better understand how the patient has dealt with their situation. Long-term sadness or anxiety frequently raises the question of how a person has managed to carry on with their life despite the potentially debilitating or draining consequences of such mental and emotional health issues.

Examples of coping questions include:
‘After everything you have been through, I am wondering what has helped you to cope and keep you afloat during all this?’; ‘I feel to ask you, what it is exactly that has helped you through this so far?’.

These inquiries prompt the client to recognize the resources they do possess, including recognizing their inner power that has gotten them this far even though they may not have been cognizant of it before.

3.      Exceptions to the Problems

The theory behind solution-focused treatment is that there are instances or times in a person’s life when the problem or issue is not there, or when it is present but has no negative impact.

Consequently, the question of what is different now is raised. By asking the client to consider and recollect instances in their life when the problem was not an issue, the practitioner can look into the exceptions to the problem. They can then question what was different about these instances.

This might provide hints that can be used to develop a solution to the issue. Knowing that there are times when they are not impacted by the issue will also be helpful for the client and may assist to minimize the influence that it has on their emotional and mental health.

As we can often be ‘clouded’ or consumed by our problems so it can be empowering to notice or be reminded of times when we were not.

4.      Compliments

This entails the practitioner attentively listening to the client to recognize and reflect back to them their accomplishments and qualities while also noting the challenges they have faced. This encourages the customer and recognizes his or her strengths. The practitioner will use direct compliments (in reaction to what the client has said), for example, ‘that’s amazing to here!’, ‘wow, that’s great’.

By asking coping questions or focusing on the client’s positive attributes while delving deeper into a topic, indirect compliments can also be used to assist the client to recognize and congratulate themselves.

For example, ‘How did you manage that?!’ with a tone of amazement and happy facial expressions.’

5.      Scales
On a scale of 1 to 10, the practitioner will ask the client to rate how serious their problem or issue is. This makes it easier for the client and the practitioner to picture where they are with the issue or problem.

Examples of scaling questions include:

‘On a scale of 1 to 10 where would you rate your current ability to achieve this goal?’; ‘From 1-10 how would you rate your progress towards finding a job?’; ‘Can you rate your current level of happiness from 1-10?’; ‘From 1-10 how much do you attribute your level of alcohol consumption to be one of the main obstacles, or sources of conflict in your marriage?’.

They can be used to compare the client’s current situation to that of the first or second session, as well as to assess how far or close they are to achieving their ideal state of being or their objective. This can assist the practitioner and the client in identifying any remaining tasks necessary to achieve a 9 or 10, which can then serve as the basis for further investigation.

Scaling helps to give clarity on the client’s feelings, it also helps to give sessions direction, and highlights if something is holding back the client’s ability to solve the problem still or not.

Advantages

• Compared to longer-term therapy that lasts for months or years, SFBT is more cost-effective because sessions typically last 6 to 10 weeks on average, but they can even be one stand-alone session.
  
  
• Can help clients to identify their problems and then find a goal to overcome them, the practitioner also offers the client support through compliments which gives them motivation to notice their strengths, increasing their self-esteem and to keep striving to achieving their goals.
  
  

• Because it is future-focused, it encourages clients to move on in life rather than feel stuck in the past. Additionally, because SFBT is optimistic in nature, it gives clients the optimism they need to look to the future with hope.
  
  
• It is non-judgmental and compassionate in its approach; the client sets their own goals, not the therapist; and they are complimented/praised for their strengths, no matter how small; even if they fall short of their predetermined goal, they are complimented for demonstrating their strengths in other ways in life, aiding them in not losing sight of their inner resources and still feeling encouraged.
  
  
  

Disadvantages

• Because it is brief, it is not a good fit for everyone. For instance, clients with more serious issues require more time, as do those who are reclusive or find it difficult to speak openly with the therapist. These clients would naturally require more time to build a rapport and feel comfortable before being able to work toward a solution with the practitioner’s assistance.
  
  
• Less emphasis is given on previous traumas, leaving less time during sessions to explore these important events (which can occasionally be extremely complicated) and aid the client in understanding why something happened in the past and why it is still having an impact on them today.
  
  
• As it is solution-focused it could minimize the client’s pain, making them feel like their past traumas have not been heard or felt by the counselor, which can and does affect the therapeutic alliance, as you are more likely to openly and honestly speak about something traumatic, if you feel the other person deems it important as well, and if they give you space for it. It is also a reason some people chose to see a counselor, because they have not had the opportunity to speak about their problems or traumas with other people in their life.
  
  Because the therapy is client-driven, there may be a few issues. For example, if the client really wishes to talk about and explore a past trauma or gain understanding on a past issue, despite cues from the practitioner to focus towards the near future in a solution- focused way, then it will be difficult for the practitioner to actually use this method at all with the client, as SFBT requires the client to actively be ready and want to find a solution and focus towards their near future.
  
  Additionally, because the client-led method places the decision-making power in the client’s hands, they are free to cease treatment sessions early if they feel their goals have been satisfactorily attained, even if the therapist has worries about this.

References

Caddell, J. (2014, July 30). What Is
Solution Focused Brief Therapy?  Verywell Mind.
https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-solution-focused-brief-therapy-2337728

De
Shazer, S., Berg, I. K., Lipchik, E., Nunnally, E., Molnar, A., Gingerich, W.,
& Weiner-Davis, M. (1986). Brief therapy: focused solution
development. Family Process, 25(2): 207–221.

Murray,
H (2021, Jan 25). Solution focused brief therapy (SFBT). Simply
Psychology. www.simplypsychology.org/solution-focused-therapy.html

Psychology Today. (2013). Solution-Focused Brief
Therapy. Psychology Today.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapy-types/solution-focused-brief-therapy