SOLUTION FOCUSED BRIEF THERAPY (SFBT)

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) is a type of therapy that focuses on finding solutions to problems rather than exploring the problems themselves in depth.

It’s a goal-directed and future-oriented approach that emphasizes the client's strengths, resources, and resilience. SFBT was developed by Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Here are some key principles of SFBT:

1. Focus on Solutions: Instead of dwelling on problems, SFBT encourages clients to envision their preferred future and identify steps to achieve it.

2. Strengths and Resources: The therapist helps the client recognize and utilize their existing strengths and resources to address challenges.

3. Brief and Time-Limited: SFBT is designed to be a short-term therapy, typically involving fewer sessions compared to traditional therapy.

4. Positive Change: The therapy highlights small changes that can lead to significant improvements, often using the concept of "exceptions" (times when the problem didn't occur) to build on success.

5. Client-Centered: Clients are viewed as the experts in their own lives, and the therapist collaborates with them to find practical solutions.

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SFBT sessions often involve questions like:

1.  "What are your best hopes for our time together?"
2.  "When was the problem less severe, and what was different then?"
3.  "What will be the first sign that things are getting better?"

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Overall, SFBT aims to empower clients by focusing on what they can do to create a positive change in their lives.