Solution-focused

Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT), also known as Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), is a goal-oriented, short-term therapeutic approach that emphasizes solutions rather than problems.

 

Developed in the 1980s by Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg, this approach operates on the belief that clients possess the resources and strengths needed to solve their own issues. The therapist's role is to help clients identify and amplify these strengths, enabling them to envision and work toward their desired future. Instead of delving deeply into the past or the underlying causes of problems, SFT focuses on what is working well in the client's life and how those successes can be built upon.

 

Key techniques include the use of "miracle questions," which encourage clients to imagine a future where their problem is resolved, and "scaling questions," which help clients assess their progress and confidence in achieving their goals.

 

The therapy is collaborative, with the therapist and client working together to identify practical steps toward solutions. SFT is particularly effective in settings where time is limited, such as in crisis intervention or workplace counselling, and it has been shown to be effective for a wide range of issues, including anxiety, depression, and relationship difficulties.