SFBT

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) is a short-term, goal-directed approach to psychotherapy and counseling that emphasizes solutions and client strengths rather than extensive problem analysis. It was developed in the 1980s by Steve de Shazer, Insoo Kim Berg, and colleagues at the Brief Family Therapy Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Sessions are typically brief, often four to eight visits, though length varies by client needs and setting.

The method rests on several assumptions: clients know their goals and resources; change can occur in small, manageable steps; and the therapist’s role is to collaborate as a facilitator rather than to declare expert fixes. The focus is future-oriented and outcome-driven, with attention to exceptions to problems and to past successes that can be built upon. Core techniques include scaling questions, the miracle question, and exploring exceptions to the problem when it was less disruptive.

In practice, therapists help clients articulate concrete goals, identify small, actionable steps, and monitor progress through brief check-ins. The miracle question invites clients to imagine a night when the problem is solved, clarifying desired outcomes. Scaling questions assess confidence and perceived progress, while exception-finding highlights times when the problem did not occur or was less impactful. Homework may be used to reinforce progress and maintain motivation.

SFBT is applied across individual, couples, and family therapy, and is widely used in schools, social services, and community settings. Evidence suggests it can be effective for a range of problems and populations, though findings vary and methodological limitations are common in brief therapies. Critics note that SFBT may not address deep trauma or severe mental illness and that outcomes often depend on therapist skill and client readiness.