Solution-focused brief therapy

Solution-focused (brief) therapy (SFBT)[1][2] is a goal-directed collaborative approach to psychotherapeutic change that is conducted through direct observation of clients' responses to a series of precisely constructed questions.[3] Based upon social constructivist thinking and Wittgensteinian philosophy,[3] SFBT focuses on addressing what clients want to achieve without exploring the history and provenance of problem(s).[4] SF therapy sessions typically focus on the present and future, focusing on the past only to the degree necessary for communicating empathy and accurate understanding of the client's concerns.[5][6]

SFBT is a future-oriented and goal-oriented[3][7] interviewing technique[8] that helps clients "build solutions." Elliott Connie defines solution building as "a collaborative language process between the client(s) and the therapist that develops a detailed description of the client(s)' preferred future/goals and identifies exceptions and past successes".[9] By doing so, SFBT focuses on clients' strengths and resilience.[7]

  1. ^ Lutz, Anne Bodmer, Anne (2013). Learning Solution-Focused Therapy: An Illustrated Guide. Arlington, Virginian: American Psychiatric Publishing. p. 232. ISBN 978-0880-483834.
  2. ^ Pichot, T.; Dolan, Y. (2003). Solution-Focused Brief Therapy: Its Effective Use in Agency Settiings. Binghamton, New York: Haworth Clinical Practice Press. p. 12. ISBN 0-7890-1554-4.
  3. ^ a b c de Shazer, S.; Dolan, Y.; Korman, H.; Trepper, T.; McCollum, E.; Berg, I.K. (2007). More Than Miracles: the State of the Art of Solution-focused Brief Therapy. New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-7890-3397-0.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference :52 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Lipchik, Eve (2002). Beyond Technique in Solution-focused Therapy: Working with Emotions and the Therapeutic Relationship. New York: Guilford. p. 20. ISBN 1572307641.
  6. ^ Berg, Insoo Kim; Dolan, Yvonne M. (2001). Tales of Solutions: A Collection of Hope-Inspiring Stories. New York: W. W. Norton & Company. ISBN 9780393703207.
  7. ^ a b Trepper, Terry S.; Dolan, Yvonne; McCollum, Eric E.; Nelson, Thorana (2006). "Steve De Shazer and the Future of Solution-Focused Therapy". Journal of Marital and Family Therapy. 32 (2): 133–139. doi:10.1111/j.1752-0606.2006.tb01595.x. ISSN 1752-0606. PMID 16676891.
  8. ^ Ratner, Harvey (2012). Solution focused brief therapy: 100 key points and techniques. London: Routledge. ISBN 9780415606127.
  9. ^ Froerer, Adam S.; Connie, Elliott E. (2016-01-02). "Solution-Building, the Foundation of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy: A Qualitative Delphi Study". Journal of Family Psychotherapy. 27 (1): 20–34. doi:10.1080/08975353.2016.1136545. ISSN 0897-5353. S2CID 147093238.