Solution Focused Therapy (SFT), also known as Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), is a short-term, goal-oriented therapeutic approach that helps individuals move toward positive change by focusing on their strengths, resources, and what’s working—rather than dissecting problems. Rooted in optimism and collaboration, SFT empowers people to imagine a better future and take practical steps to achieve it.
Widely used across clinical, educational, and community settings, this model offers a refreshing, effective way to support mental health, resilience, and problem-solving.
The Foundations of Solution Focused Therapy
Origins and Development
Solution Focused Therapy was developed in the 1980s by Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg at the Brief Family Therapy Center in Milwaukee, USA. Their work emerged from a desire to streamline therapy by focusing on the solutions that clients were already finding for themselves, rather than analysing the details of their problems.
Over time, SFT has gained global recognition for its simplicity, effectiveness, and adaptability across different professions and client populations.
Core Principles of SFT
At the heart of Solution Focused Therapy are a few powerful ideas:
- Focus on solutions, not problems – Therapy centres on what’s possible and what’s already working.
- Clients are the experts – The client’s perspective is valued and they are seen as capable of change.
- Small steps lead to big outcomes – Even minor shifts in thinking or behaviour can spark larger transformations.
- Strengths and resources matter – SFT encourages people to draw on their existing abilities and support systems.
These principles create a hopeful, forward-looking therapeutic process where change begins from the very first conversation.
How Solution Focused Therapy Works
Future-Focused Conversations
SFT invites clients to imagine their preferred future—a version of life where the problem has become manageable or has disappeared. This vision becomes a practical target for therapy and motivates change.
Rather than asking, “What’s wrong?” the therapist might ask, “What would be different if things were better?” or “What would you notice tomorrow if a small miracle happened overnight?”
Key Techniques and Questions
SFT uses a range of structured, empowering techniques, including:
- The Miracle Question – A creative prompt that helps clients describe their ideal outcome.
- Scaling Questions – Tools for measuring progress, motivation, and confidence (e.g. “On a scale from 1 to 10…”).
- Exception Finding – Exploring times when the problem was less severe or didn’t occur to uncover helpful behaviours or strategies.
- Compliments and Reframing – Highlighting client strengths and redefining challenges in a constructive light.
These strategies help clients shift their focus from what’s going wrong to what’s going right—and how to build on it.
Professionals looking to learn or refresh these techniques can access new solution focused therapy courses designed for practical application in real-world settings, including education, social care, counselling, and youth support.
Who Can Benefit from SFT?
Solution Focused Therapy is a flexible approach that can benefit:
- Individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, or life transitions
- Children and adolescents navigating behavioural or emotional challenges
- Families adjusting to change or seeking better communication
- Professionals in education, casework, disability services, or leadership roles who support others through change
Because it focuses on strengths and solutions, SFT is especially useful when time is limited or when clients feel stuck or overwhelmed.
Where is SFT Used?
Clinical and Counselling Settings
SFT is often used in mental health services, private practice, crisis response teams, and brief intervention programs. Its forward-focused structure makes it ideal for short-term therapeutic work.
Schools and Youth Work
Many school counsellors, psychologists, and wellbeing staff use SFT strategies to support students’ emotional and behavioural development. It’s also common in youth work, where rapport-building and solution planning are key.
Health and Community Services
SFT fits well within social work, disability support, allied health, and community outreach. It empowers clients by focusing on what they can do—rather than what’s wrong—making it especially effective in recovery and case management.
Benefits of Solution Focused Therapy
Solution Focused Therapy offers a range of practical benefits:
- Efficient and time-sensitive – Suitable for short-term or session-limited work
- Empowering and non-pathologising – Centres on client agency and resilience
- Applicable across diverse populations and settings
- Easily integrated into existing professional practice
- Trauma-aware and respectful of client readiness for change
Its simplicity makes it both accessible to learn and highly impactful when applied well.
How to Learn SFT Techniques
Training in Solution Focused Therapy is now more accessible than ever. New workshops and courses cater to a variety of professionals—including therapists, educators, youth workers, nurses, and coaches.
Options include:
- 1-day introductory workshops
- Multi-day immersive programs
- Online and self-paced learning
- Courses that offer CPD certificates or hours
These programs focus on giving participants the tools, language, and confidence to apply SFT immediately in their work.
Closing Thoughts
Solution Focused Therapy is more than a set of techniques—it’s a hopeful, collaborative way of helping people find clarity, confidence, and direction. Whether you’re supporting a student through a tough transition or helping a client explore change, SFT offers a respectful and practical path forward.
For professionals across mental health, education, and care sectors, learning SFT is a smart way to deepen your impact and bring out the best in those you support.
