Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)

SFBT was developed by Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg at the Brief Family Therapy Centre in Milwaukee in 1978 and is now used extensively throughout the world. The essence of SFBT is to work with the person rather than the problem, looking for strengths rather than weaknesses. SFBT works with hopes for the future as opposed to evaluation of problems. It is a short-term therapeutic process which looks to help clients identify clear and specific goals. When consideration is given to the preferred future as opposed to the problem past, it often becomes clear that aspects of this future are already happening. These exceptions become the basis for initiating change. 

When utilising SFBT I aim to adhere to the principle of client as expert on themselves and look to ensure that each session fits the client’s agenda as opposed to my own. Evaluation of our work together is also a fundamental principle to my practice. To achieve these aims the following questions are central to each session;

• What do you want?                                    
• How will you know when you achieved it?         
• What are you doing already to get there?  
• What needs to happen for you to move closer to achieving your goal?   
• What has been useful today and what will you take from the session? 

   

Evidence Base

There is a growing body of outcome research for SFBT indicating that it is an effective form of therapeutic intervention.

Please click here for research findings.