Solution Focused Therapy

Solution-focused therapy (SFT) is a goal-oriented, short-term approach to therapy that centers on helping individuals find practical solutions to current issues rather than delving deeply into past problems. Developed by Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg in the 1980s, SFT emphasizes the client’s strengths and resources, focusing on what is working well and how these positive aspects can be used to address present challenges.

In solution-focused therapy, the therapist works with the client to identify specific goals and to create a vision of what success looks like. Instead of exploring root causes or analyzing past events, SFT focuses on small, achievable steps toward improvement. Therapists often use questions such as, “What would life look like if this problem were solved?” or “What has helped you overcome challenges in the past?” These questions guide clients to recognize their own abilities and build confidence in finding their way forward.

Solution focused brief therapy (SFBT) is a flexible approach that can be used alone or alongside other treatments, making it adaptable for people of all ages and backgrounds. While it’s not designed for one specific group, it has been effective for a range of mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, child behavioral issues, family conflicts, and relationship problems.

In mental health care, SFBT helps individuals concentrate on building a positive future rather than dwelling on past struggles. Its goal-focused method is particularly beneficial for those who thrive with structured support in achieving immediate, practical goals. Although SFBT is not a stand-alone treatment for complex psychiatric conditions like schizophrenia, it can improve daily functioning and overall quality of life when integrated with other therapies. By focusing on personal strengths and small solutions, SFBT helps individuals feel empowered to make progress step-by-step, boosting both resilience and motivation.

In SFBT, you can expect sessions to kick off with clear, goal-oriented conversations. One of the first things your therapist might ask is the “miracle question”: “If a miracle happened while you were asleep tonight, and when you woke up tomorrow, things were just as you’d want them, what would you notice first?” This question isn’t just theoretical; it’s a way to help you envision specific, meaningful changes and kickstart a plan to get there.

Together with your therapist, you’ll start outlining small, concrete steps to help make those changes happen. SFBT often wraps up within four to eight sessions, yet it’s designed to give you real momentum by focusing on what’s possible and practical.

What makes SFBT unique is the therapist’s perspective. They approach each session with a respectful and optimistic outlook, assuming you have the strength, insight, and experience to make lasting changes. Challenges aren’t seen as “resistance” but rather as natural protective responses or signs that previous strategies didn’t fully fit your needs. This mindset makes sessions feel more like a genuine partnership, fostering a respectful, collaborative environment.

Solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) can be traced back to the mid-20th century when therapy shifted toward practical, present-focused approaches. The groundwork was laid by Paul Watzlawick, John Weakland, and Richard Fisch, who introduced a “brief therapy” model in 1974, emphasizing that change could be achieved without delving into the origins of a problem. Their perspective suggested that therapy should focus on identifying previous attempts at solutions, setting clear goals, and implementing actionable steps for change.

Building on these principles, SFBT was formalized in the 1980s by Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg at the Brief Family Therapy Center in Milwaukee. De Shazer and Berg took Watzlawick and colleagues’ ideas further by crafting specific techniques that encouraged clients to focus on solutions rather than problems. They introduced hallmark elements like the “miracle question,” which prompts clients to imagine a future free of the issues they face, and “scaling questions” to measure progress. These methods aimed to help clients identify strengths and resources that could be expanded to create meaningful change.

Since its inception, SFBT has become widely respected for its adaptability and effectiveness across various therapeutic settings, including mental health services and social work. Studies like those by Gingerich and Peterson underscore its success, with a range of techniques—goal-setting, the miracle question, scaling, searching for exceptions, offering compliments, and assigning practical “homework”—proving effective in numerous settings and populations.

While the fundamental features of SFBT have evolved, the approach remains anchored in the belief that clients hold the resources needed for their own solutions. Today, SFBT continues to be valued for its structured yet flexible approach, allowing practitioners in diverse fields to help clients create practical, positive change.