Solution-Focused Therapy

Overview of Solution-Focused Therapy

SFBT is goal oriented, targeting the desired outcome of therapy as a solution rather than focusing on the symptoms
or issues that brought someone to therapy. This technique emphasizes present and future circumstances and desires
over past experiences. The therapist encourages the client to imagine the future that he or she wants and then the
therapist and client collaborate on a series of steps to achieve that goal. This form of therapy involves developing a
vision of ones future, and then determining what skills, resources, and abilities a person already possesses that can
be enhanced in order to attain the desired outcome. SFBT was developed by Steve de Shazer, Insoo Kim Berg, and
their team at the Brief Family Therapy Family Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the early 1980s.
Presenting Problem
The Jones family consists of a wife (Ashley) and husband (Joe) who have been married for over 17 years. The
Jones have 1 daughter, Michelle (age 14). Recently, Ashley has become a workaholic per Joes report, and never
makes time for any family activities or time alone with her husband. Joe feels as if Ashley puts her job above him
and their daughter. Ashley has had the same job since the beginning of their marriage; however, in the past 6 months
she has been more invested in her job than spending time with Joe or Michelle. Joe feels that both he and Ashley
lack the ability to communicate over this issue effectively and dislikes that their daughter Michelle witnesses their
constant bickering. With an urge to fix their marriage and the family, Joe has called and made an appointment for
the family to meet with a therapist (Jess).
The Goal of the First Session:
When utilizing Solutions Focused Family therapy, it is easy for practitioners to find themselves in a rut when trying
to adhere to a rigid protocol. By the end of the first session, practitioners should understand the familys conditions
at baseline and the familys envisionment of ideal conditions. Families should leave the first session with one small
goal that they can experiment with until the next meeting. This framework is steeped in the belief that incremental
change can bring about tremendous systemic change and that this change can be relatively rapid.
Core Features

Solution-Focused Family therapy is often propelled by two questions which help clients to uncover their own
resiliency as a family system and gain a greater understanding of their ideal family situation. These questions are
called the Miracle Question and the Exception Question.
The Miracle Question is often framed as follows: Suppose that one night, while you were asleep, there was a
miracle and the problem was solved. How would you know? What would be different?
The Exception Question asks families to explore in depth the times wherein the problem is not present. This
question often helps family members to realize strengths they had discounted or never even noticed.
Clients are asked to make small, realistic, and observable goals based upon the strengths that have emerged within
the sessions.
In this approach to family therapy, the therapist operates as a coach or a guide rather than an expert. Families create
their own sustainable change.
The problem itself is not deeply explored; in Solutions Focused Family Therapy the emphasis is on the conditions
that the problem creates, and the amelioration of those adverse conditions.

Reference:
https://www.utexas.edu/courses/franklin/62665/Week2.html - techniques