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Solution-Focused Therapy Overview

Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT) is a brief, goal-oriented approach that emphasizes solutions and the client's strengths rather than problems. Key techniques include the Miracle Question, Exception Questions, and Scaling Questions, which help clients envision goals and measure progress. SFT is particularly useful for issues like stress, relationship concerns, and mild anxiety, but may not address deep emotional problems or severe trauma.

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Sejal Sharma
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5 views3 pages

Solution-Focused Therapy Overview

Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT) is a brief, goal-oriented approach that emphasizes solutions and the client's strengths rather than problems. Key techniques include the Miracle Question, Exception Questions, and Scaling Questions, which help clients envision goals and measure progress. SFT is particularly useful for issues like stress, relationship concerns, and mild anxiety, but may not address deep emotional problems or severe trauma.

Uploaded by

Sejal Sharma
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT / SFBT)

Definition

Solution-Focused Therapy is a brief, goal-oriented therapeutic approach that focuses on


solutions rather than problems, and on the present and future rather than the past.

Developed by Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg.

Basic Assumptions

 Clients already have strengths and resources

 Small changes can lead to bigger change

 Focusing on solutions is more helpful than analyzing problems

 The client is the expert of their own life

 Problems do not happen all the time (exceptions exist)

Key Focus

 “What is working?”

 “What do you want instead?”

 “How will you know things are better?”

Main Techniques

1. Miracle Question

“If a miracle happened overnight and the problem was solved, what would be different
tomorrow?”

Helps clients imagine goals clearly.

2. Exception Questions

 Identify times when the problem did not occur

 Explore what was different then

3. Scaling Questions
 Clients rate feelings or progress on a 0–10 scale

 Helps measure change and motivation

4. Coping Questions

 Identify how the client is already managing

 Builds hope and resilience

5. Goal-Setting

 Goals are specific, realistic, and achievable

 Focus on behaviors, not symptoms

Role of Therapist

 Collaborative and respectful

 Uses questioning rather than interpretation

 Highlights strengths and successes

Who SFT Is Useful For

 Stress and adjustment issues

 Career and academic counseling

 Relationship concerns

 Mild to moderate anxiety or depression

 School and community mental health settings

Strengths

 Short-term and cost-effective

 Empowering and hopeful

 Culturally flexible

 Easy to use in camps, schools, and NGOs


Limitations

 Less focus on deep emotional issues

 Not suitable alone for severe trauma or psychopathology

 May feel superficial for some clients

SFT vs CBT (Brief)

SFT CBT

Future-focused Present-focused

Solution-oriented Problem-oriented

Strength-based Thought-based

Minimal homework Structured homework

Key Takeaway

Solution-Focused Therapy helps clients move forward by building on strengths, identifying


solutions, and creating achievable goals instead of dwelling on problems.

If you want, I can:

 Convert this into short exam answers

 Create case examples

 Compare SFT with CBT / Humanistic / Psychoanalysis

 Simplify it for school or community settings

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