What Is Solution-Focused Brief Therapy?

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) is a collaborative approach that emphasizes your strengths, resources, and ability to create positive change. Instead of focusing primarily on why a problem developed, you and your therapist work together to identify what you would like to be different.
From there, you can recognize times when the problem is less noticeable and identify what is already working. Together, you can build practical steps toward the future you want.

How Solution-Focused Therapy Can Help

SFBT can help you clarify what you want to change and identify practical steps toward achieving it. Rather than focusing on problems alone, therapy builds on your strengths, previous successes, and possible solutions. As a result, you can build confidence, recognize progress, and make meaningful changes in your everyday life.

What to Expect in Solution-Focused Brief Therapy

SFBT is active, collaborative, and focused on your goals. During therapy, your therapist may ask questions that help you identify strengths and recognize times when things are going better. You may also explore what meaningful improvement would look like. From there, you can build on what is already working and develop manageable steps toward the changes you want to make.

Is Solution-Focused Brief Therapy Right for You?

SFBT may be helpful if you have a specific concern or goal you would like to address and prefer a practical, forward-focused approach to therapy. For example, you may want to build on your existing strengths, identify solutions, and begin making manageable changes. Because SFBT focuses on solutions and future goals, you don’t have to spend extensive time exploring the past.