Solution Focused
Brief Therapy
A critique by Krissy Gutierrez, B.A.
Summary
As it’s name suggests, Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) relies on a
few key principles:
• Future-focused and solution-oriented talk, not much time spent on the
past or on problems (Brasher, 2009)
• Client and Counselor average five sessions to reach goals, rarely going
over eight sessions before termination (Brasher, 2009)
• Clients are the experts and the counselor helps them discover strengths
and skills they already possess (Brasher, 2009)
Summary, con’t.
• Developed by Steve de Shazer, with influences from Milton Erickson and
John Weakland (Brasher, 2009)
• Able to address a wide range of concerns, including academic, personal,
and social (Brasher, 2009)
• Studies of efficacy of SFBT show mixed results, with varying degrees of
experimental rigor (Brasher, 2009)
Summary, con’t.
SFBT Main Questions Therapeutic Compliment
Components
• Coping questions – how has the • Nomalizing – Client feelings are normal
client coped thus far • Restructuring – an opportunity to
• Exception questions – when was it change thinking
different • Affirmation of competencies – Client
has the resources
• Miracle question – brainstorming
goals • Bridging – connects compliments to
tasks
• Scaling questions – how severe
• Homework - activities to work towards
• Task development – setting goals goals between sessions
Reaction
Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
Our students generally
(Scaling) come to our high
school as a third, or
fourth option to
graduation. Goal-
setting is work that fits
in this orientation and
resonates with
students.
Successes and Areas for Improvement
Benefits Limitations
• Brief – As I have been told but only • Not suitable for all concerns – my
now experiencing, school high school serves a high
counselor schedules are typically population of at-risk students,
jam-packed, with large caseloads, some with serious issues and
and aren’t conducive to lengthy complex trauma. Positivity isn’t
treatments always appropriate, and
• Positive-focused – Helps turn the sometimes harmful
conversation from doom-and-
gloom to possibilities and
strengths
SFBT can be used
with families and
school staff
As a 95% virtual school, I
rely on many supports to
help keep students
engaged. By including
teachers, paras, and
caregivers into using SFBT
language we can be a
united front when working
with students.
Personal Comforts
• I’m naturally optimistic and gravitate towards positivity. I find it easy to
point this out when talking with students who aren’t able to see it in
themselves
• I enjoy watching a student discover for themselves the power they hold
• Asking questions isn’t my preferred way of counseling, but it helps to get
a student comfortable talking, especially as we are in the beginning
stages of building a relationship
Reference
Brasher, K. L. (2009). Solution-Focused Brief Therapy: Overview and Implications for
School Counselors. The Alabama Counseling Association Journal, 34(2), 20- 30.
