Solution Focused Brief Therapy

A basic tenant of SFBT is figuring out what works and doing more of it. It utilizes optimism, logic facts and actions to help us navigate through challenges. SFBT emphasizes that people already possess the resources they need to change; we just need to get back in contact with them.

What is the problem? How is it a problem? What have you been trying to do to solve it? Imagine if the problem was already solved, what is the first thing that you would notice? These questions form the basis of the solution-focused brief therapy model. The art is in how the questions are asked. Instead feeling like an interview, I ask them in the form of a conversation. It is through this conversation that I will pull on your inner resources for change.

It is very important to work towards a solution so we have goals to focus on. It is important my clients continue to do work outside of therapy to help themselves.

We know what we know… well, most of the time. But translating knowledge into action for change is something else. Sure, we will talk about your issues, but talk only goes so far. We will work on actionable processes to help you get past thoughts, behaviors and feelings that contribute to anxiety, depression, PTSD, BiPolar Disorder, and chronic debilitating daily stress. A change in thoughts, brings about change in feelings and results in changed behavior.

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) is a short-term goal-focused evidence-based therapeutic approach, which incorporates positive psychology principles and practices, and which helps clients change by constructing solutions rather than focusing on problems.

I believe that Solution Focused Brief Therapy helps clients rely on their strengths on how to move forward, and strays away from highlighting their past and what they are not able to achieve. This approach emphasizes that clients are experts of their own lives and that they do have what it takes to make the changes they desire.

Our work can be centered on identifying and working towards resolution on a current or persistent issue that is interfering with your current life healthy balance. The direct approach of problem identification and solution exploring can feel very empowering. Sometimes this may lead to deeper unpacking of issues but, initially it is about problem solving and stability.

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) is a goal-directed approach that centers on the client's present and future, rather than the past. It empowers individuals to envision their desired future and aids them in identifying and leveraging their strengths and resources to bring about meaningful changes and achieve their goals, often in a relatively short timeframe.

I'm a big believer in Solution-Focused Therapy. It’s all about focusing on your strengths and building on them. Instead of getting tangled up in the problem, we explore your desired future and work towards creating it. This approach places you, the client, as the expert of your own life. I'm here to help illuminate the path, encouraging you to harness your own resources to devise effective solutions. Let’s start finding those small steps that lead to big changes together.

I have been practicing this technique since 2010 and continue to attend ongoing trainings regarding this approach to ensure my skills remain sharp and effective.

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), also called Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT) was developed by Steve de Shazer (1940-2005), and Insoo Kim Berg (1934-2007) in collaboration with their colleagues at the Milwaukee Brief Family Therapy Center beginning in the late 1970s. As the name suggests, SFBT is future-focused, goal-directed, and focuses on solutions, rather than on the problems that brought clients to seek therapy.

A basic tenant of SFBT is figuring out what works and doing more of it. It utilizes optimism, logic facts and actions to help us navigate through challenges. SFBT emphasizes that people already possess the resources they need to change; we just need to get back in contact with them.

I try to get a future picture of life without the problem or when you are handling it better. Trying to identify the actions that a person does during non problematic times are also identified.

I am committed to helping clients improve their well being and gain self knowledge and awareness in order to create meaningful, joyful, lives. Each person's therapy is individualized collaborative and strength based.