SOULTION FOCUSSED BRIEF THERAPY

What is solution-focused brief therapy?

Solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) is a strength-based approach to psychotherapy that focuses on solution-building rather than problem-solving. Unlike other forms of psychotherapy that analyze present problems and past causes, SFBT concentrates on current circumstances and future hopes.

Techniques:

SFBT is an approach that falls under the umbrella of constructive therapies. Constructivism posits that people are meaning makers and are ultimately the creators of their own realities. The SFBT counsellor believes that change in life is inevitable. Because someone creates their own reality, they may as well change for the better.

In SFBT, the counsellor is a skilled conversation facilitator. They do not present themselves as an expert but instead comes from a "not-knowing" point of view.1

Drawing upon the client's expertise in themselves, the therapist uses a variety of techniques and questions to demonstrate their strengths, resources, and desires. With the focus shifted to what is already working in a client's life, and how things will look when they are better, more room opens up for the solutions to arrive.

What SFBT Can Help With?

SFBT is best when a client is trying to reach a goal or overcome a particular problem. It can stand alone as a therapeutic intervention, or it can be used along with other therapy styles. It's used to treat people of all ages and a wide range of issues including addiction, child behavioral problems, and relationship problems.

This form of therapy is typically not used to treat major psychiatric conditions such as psychosis and schizophrenia.

Benefits of SFBT

The major advantage of SFBT is its brevity. SFBT is a form of "brief therapy," typically lasting between 5-8 sessions.

Instead of digging into old wounds, more time is spent focusing on resolutions, which makes SFBT great for people who have a specific goal in mind and just need a little help reaching it.

Effectiveness

Research shows that SFBT can effectively:

Decrease addiction severity and trauma symptoms
Decrease marital issues and marital burnout in women
Improve classroom behavioral problems in children with special education needs
Reduce externalizing behavioral problems, including conduct disorder, and conflict management
Reduce internalizing behavioral problems, such as depression, anxiety, and self-esteem

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