• The paradigm of focusing on solutions rather than problems has challenged couples therapists, who had traditionally focused

on past experiences,
generational patterns, and family legacies, to explore instead what was working in the couple's relationship. SFT takes a distinctly postmodern
approach, focusing on developing a preferred future for the couple. While the preferred future is the focus, there are opportunities, once the preferred
future is defined, to explore past experiences in the form of exception gathering within the context of the couple's relationship. Seeking exceptions with
each other once the preferred future is defined empowers individuals within the couple to notice the strength within themselves and their partner. It also
brings back more helpful memories of times when the couple interacted more satisfactorily. Such a shift in a couple that initially presents in therapy
with a problem focus takes them from focusing on individual issues to a more global snapshot of what their relationship can be.
• In general, what sets SFT aside from other models is its focus on gaining direction from the couple in therapy in the very first session regarding the
outcome they desire. Bill O’Hanlon once described arriving at an airport and trying to get a taxi to his destination. The taxi driver first asked him,
“Where are you coming from?” Bill said, “Well, it doesn’t matter, I need to go to this destination.” He went on to ask the audience, “What if the taxi
cab driver asked again, ‘But, where are you coming from?’” The conversation would be pointless; knowing where we come from does not give us
directions for where we are trying to go. Our past may explain how we got here, but as for our future plans, those directions start in the present
(O’Hanlon, 2014).
• In addition, social constructionism has heavily influenced the solution-focused approach within couples therapy. According to social constructivism,
the therapist should take a “not-knowing stance” (de Shazer, 1988). This means that the therapist should enter the therapy session not knowing what the
presenting problem is or what the couple should do to solve their problem. As a result, intake forms in a SFT office rarely ask for any reasons that the
couple is coming to therapy. This assists the solution-focused therapist to be unbiased in regard to thinking what the couple should do. Social
constructionists also believe that language shapes and is shaped by relationships within the couple. How one partner sees the other has much to do with
how the relationship develops. Therefore, language can be a tool for creating change in therapy by conjuring up new descriptions or meanings for the
couple.
• As a result, some solution-focused therapists tend to ask their couples for nonpathological descriptions as a means of lowering anxiety and problem
focus on an individual or event. This normalizing tends to lessen the negative effects of labels within the couple and opens up the possibility for a
conversation that leads to possibilities. While the solution-focused brief therapy initially constructed by de Shazer and Berg seemed at times
regimented to certain protocol, today, according to founders of BRIEF Therapy Practice, the model has evolved into three basic questions:
- What are your best hopes for the session?
- What will be different when the hopes are achieved?
- What is already working that can help the hopes become a reality?
• Solution-focused models have a worldwide appeal among practitioners in couples therapy because of their simple and practical ways of working with
couples. The two variants include solution focused therapy with couples and solution-oriented therapy with couples. We will now examine the
similarities and differences between the two models.
• One of the core similarities between the solution-focused therapy (SFT) and solution-oriented therapy
models in couples therapy is the agreement that clients are never seen as pathological or resistant. Instead,
therapists in both models believe that clients possess the necessary skills and tools to change and improve
their lives if they decide that their goal is beneficial and aligns with their true desires.
• In this therapy approach, what may sometimes appear as resistance from the client is actually perceived as
the therapist's inability to effectively cooperate with the client. As de Shazer (1988) stated, "There is no
such thing as a resistant client, only an inflexible therapist." If a client does not change after a task is
developed between therapist and client, the therapist assumes responsibility for not fully understanding
what the client was trying to achieve or for not asking the correct questions. Today, solution-focused brief
therapists operate on the assumption that clients are not inherently resistant; rather, it is the therapist's
responsibility to engage the client and ask the right questions to prevent resistance from occurring.
• Similarly, both models initially place significant emphasis on the clients' motivation levels. According to
Steve de Shazer (1988), there are three types of clients—visitors, complainers, and customers—and each
type provides insight into the client's motivation level.
- Visitors come to therapy involuntarily and are not actively seeking help. With these clients, the therapist's
role is to demonstrate how the client might benefit from the session.
- Complainers are clients who have decided to seek help for a problem, but they lack clarity and are unsure
how to work toward a solution. Therapists need to help complainers construct attainable goals and
encourage them to view exceptions to their problems.
- Customers have clearly defined goals and are actively working toward them. When working with
customers, the therapist's role is to provide additional support to help them achieve their goals.
• Despite originating from different orientations, both solution-focused and solution-oriented therapy
models share core beliefs and assumptions. One fundamental principle is that clients are regarded as
the experts on their own lives. Given the appropriate context, clients can uncover exceptions in their
lives and formulate solutions that are tailored to their unique circumstances.
• Bill O’Hanlon emphasizes that solution-oriented therapy, also known as possibility therapy, places
importance on validating the client's felt experiences and viewpoints. This approach adopts a
flexible rather than formulaic method, focusing more on emotions and the client's personal
experience of the problem. Conversely, the founders of BRIEF therapy prioritize the client's best
hopes and aim to develop a preferred future defined by the client.
• Therapists employing a solution-focused approach, according to Berg, place special emphasis on the
clients' words and phrases. They believe that only the client possesses detailed knowledge of their
own experiences and definitions of the problem. Unlike positivist approaches such as cognitive
behavioral therapy, which prescribe interventions based on the family concern, the solution-focused
model asserts that reality is constructed by the individual. Therefore, change arises from the
construction of new ideas about reality. Clients are more likely to follow through when they develop
their own strategies.
• In essence, solution-focused brief therapy emphasizes the role of language in shaping the
conversation between therapist and client. Departing from traditional models where clients and
therapists discuss the client's problems, solution-focused therapists use conversations to guide the
client in determining the kind of life they desire, identifying what they already know how to do to
achieve it (referred to as exceptions), and exploring ways to accomplish their goals.
THEORETICAL ASSUMPTIONS
A summary of the basic theoretical assumptions in SFT are listed as follows:
1. Clients have resources and strengths to resolve complaints.
2. Change is constant.
3. Th e therapist’s job is to identify and amplify change.
4. It is usually unnecessary to know a great deal about the complaint in order to
resolve it.
5. It is not necessary to know the cause or function of a complaint to resolve it.
6. A small change is all that is necessary; a change in one part of the system can
aff ect change in another part of the system.
7. Clients defi ne the goal.
8. Rapid change or resolution of problems is possible.
9. Th ere is no one “right” way to view things; diff erent views may be just as valid and
may fi t the facts just as well.
10. Focus on what is possible and changeable, rather than what is impossible and
intractable.
View on the Client
• The solution-focused therapy approach rejects any preconceived notions
about what a client needs to change and instead relies on what the client
wants to change. Therapists see it as their responsibility to facilitate
clients in trying something different, rather than persisting with what is
not working. When working with COUPLES, therapists ask the couple to
envision how they want things to be in relation to the problem and to
recall times when the problem occurred less frequently, referred to as the
preferred future. This systemic approach allows for rapid change and
provides couples with numerous options within their expertise. The ripple
effect of one person making a change in a family system can lead to
broader changes within the system itself.
View on how Change Occurs
• Change, according to solution-focused therapists, is dependent on the client's motivation.
Therapists guide clients in defining a specific and visual preferred future, assuming that the
client is motivated to change simply by being present in the session. One method used to
elicit direction from initially unmotivated clients is the "first session task," where clients are
asked to observe and describe what happens in their life that they want to continue
experiencing. Ultimately, therapists assist clients in constructing small, realistic, and
achievable goals, ensuring a higher success rate when the goals are important and relevant
to the client. Recent developments suggest that client-set goals are reinforced primarily by
the therapist's encouragement, without interfering with the client's ownership of success.
• The first step in guiding clients toward their preferred future involves changing how they
perceive the problem. Solution-focused therapists ask questions that help clients construct a
preferred future as if a miracle occurred in their life, providing them with a glimpse into the
desired future. Initially, therapists focused on finding exceptions to clients' complaints—
times when the problem occurred less or not at all. While the emphasis has shifted towards
the preferred future, finding exceptions helps clients believe change is possible, as they
recall better experiences. Once the preferred future is fully defined, therapists may ask
clients to describe times when part of the preferred future occurred slightly, further
reinforcing the possibility of change.
Role of the Therapist
• In the context of couples therapy, the therapist's role in solution-focused therapy is to facilitate
the process of identifying the preferred future for the relationship. Rather than delving into the
intricacies of past problems or assigning blame, the therapist guides the couple in envisioning
what they want their relationship to look like moving forward. This approach shifts the focus
from dwelling on past issues to actively creating a positive vision for the future.
• The therapist trusts that each member of the couple possesses the insight and resources necessary
to contribute to the desired changes in the relationship. By empowering the couple to take the
lead in defining their goals and aspirations, the therapist fosters a sense of ownership and agency
within the partnership.
• Throughout the therapy process, the therapist encourages the couple to recognize and build upon
existing strengths and positive aspects of their relationship. This emphasis on strengths helps shift
the couple's perspective away from dwelling on problems and towards recognizing their capacity
for growth and resilience.
• In solution-focused couples therapy, therapists believe that couples already have the potential to
resolve their issues; they just need guidance in recognizing and harnessing that potential.
Therefore, therapists adopt a stance of curiosity and openness, seeking to understand the couple's
unique dynamics and strengths. By remaining receptive to the couple's experiences and
perspectives, therapists can effectively guide them towards solutions that align with their goals
and aspirations for their relationship.
Interventions
• In couples therapy, interventions in solution-focused therapy are tailored to facilitate
positive changes in the relationship dynamics. The therapist primarily utilizes
questions, specifically exception, miracle, and scaling questions, to guide the couple
towards identifying and amplifying strengths and solutions within their relationship.
• Following the principles of solution-focused therapy, therapists adhere to certain
rules to guide their interventions. These rules emphasize the importance of
recognizing what is already working well in the relationship and encouraging the
couple to do more of it. Conversely, if certain aspects of the relationship are not
functioning effectively, the therapist helps the couple explore alternative approaches
and behaviors.
• Rather than viewing their role as implementing specific techniques or interventions,
solution-focused therapists focus on using questions and interviewing techniques to
guide the therapeutic process. Questions are strategically crafted to help the couple
identify exceptions to their problems, envision positive future outcomes, and build a
sense of optimism and achievement. Through interviewing techniques, therapists
validate the couple's concerns while facilitating significant shifts in their perspectives
and approaches to their relationship challenges.
Questions
• In couples therapy, solution-focused interventions revolve around the strategic use of questioning
techniques, which aim to guide the couple towards envisioning positive outcomes and solutions for their
relationship challenges. These questions are categorized into three main types: the miracle question,
exception-finding questions, and scaling questions.
• The miracle question serves as a pivotal intervention in solution-focused therapy, prompting the couple
to imagine a future where their problem no longer exists, and instead, a miraculous change has occurred.
By focusing on the preferred future, the miracle question encourages the couple to shift their perspective
away from the problem and towards potential solutions.
• Exception-finding questions invite the couple to reflect on times when their problem occurred less
frequently or was absent altogether. These questions open the door to exploring possibilities and
identifying previous strengths that the couple used to navigate challenges in their relationship.
• Scaling questions are considered the "workhorses" of solution-focused therapy, allowing the couple to
assess the degree of progress towards their preferred future on a ten-point scale. This enables both the
therapist and the couple to track progress, set client-defined goals, and measure the impact of the
problem on their lives. Scaling questions also facilitate dialogue between family members, especially
when there are differences in their perceptions of the problem.
• Throughout the therapeutic process, therapists utilize these questioning techniques to empower the
couple to define their goals, track their progress, and identify strategies for moving closer to resolution.
By encouraging the couple to focus on their strengths and envision a positive future, solution-focused
therapy fosters hope and motivation for change.
Interviewing ideas
• In couples therapy within the solution-focused approach, the interviewing process is crucial for shifting the clients' perspectives and
facilitating change. Here are some key interviewing ideas used in solution-focused therapy:
1. Ideas, Not Techniques: Solution-focused therapists do not rely on specific techniques but instead adopt a mindset that respects the
expertise of the clients. Therapy is seen as a collaborative process where the therapist validates the client's experience and supports
their suggestions for change. This approach empowers the clients and contributes to the efficiency of the therapy by immediately
placing them in charge of their own progress.
2. Problem-Free Talk: Encouraging problem-free talk is essential in solution-focused therapy as it helps elicit resources from the
clients. Instead of dwelling on the problems, therapists gently guide the conversation towards solution-focused thinking by inserting
problem-free words and phrases. This approach respects the client's need to express concerns while gently steering them towards
envisioning a better future.
3. Compliments: Compliments play a role in affirming the client's progress and strengths. While traditionally offered at the end of a
session, compliments need to be honest, evidence-based, and unconditional. However, the direct presentation of compliments has
become less common in recent years, with therapists adopting a more complimentary stance throughout the therapy process. If used,
compliments should be based on the therapist's observations of the client's achievements.

• Compliments are usually structured in a five-step procedure:

a. Normalization: Acknowledge the client's concerns or challenges.
b. Restructuring: Prompt the client to consider their strengths and resources.
c. Affirmation of Competencies: Highlight the client's abilities to handle similar situations.
d. Bridging Statement: Connect the client's strengths to potential next steps.
e. Homework Task: Offer a suggestion for the client to notice what helps them move towards a solution or build on partial
successes between sessions.
• These interviewing ideas serve to empower clients, promote solution-focused thinking, and maintain a collaborative therapeutic
relationship throughout the counseling process.
Regard for SFT
• In recent years, there has been some debate surrounding whether solution-focused brief
therapy (SFT) adequately addresses emotional processes. While some argue that SFT
neglects emotions, research by Kim and Franklin (2015) suggests otherwise. They assert
that positive emotions have always been integral to the SFT approach, aiding in the
construction of solutions. Notably, SFT has shown effectiveness in treating various
psychosocial conditions across different age groups, including children, adolescents,
and adults. Moreover, it has proven helpful for adults with mild to moderate depression
and has garnered evidence-based support for addressing mental health and substance
abuse issues.
• Assessing progress in SFT involves evaluating the client's advancement towards change
both at the beginning and end of sessions. Initially, the therapist may inquire about any
improvements or changes since the previous session, helping to identify progress and
maintain focus on solutions. Questions such as "What else has been better?" or "What
have others noticed?" can assist clients in recognizing their progress. Towards the end of
the session, the therapist may inquire about the client's perception of the session's
helpfulness and their willingness to continue therapy. Additionally, the therapist may use
scaling questions to gauge the client's progress over time and identify areas for further
improvement.
Effectiveness of SFT
• Effectiveness studies have shown that SFT has gained widespread
recognition among clinicians and researchers worldwide over the past
three decades. Beyond therapy, the solution-focused approach has found
applications in diverse fields such as child protective services, education,
business, and supervision models. Empirical studies, meta-analyses, and
systematic reviews support SFT as an evidence-based practice, with
positive outcomes observed across various social classes. The success
rates of SFT, averaging around 60% in three to five sessions, are
comparable to other evidence-based practices like cognitive-behavioral
therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy (IPT).
SFT WORKING TEMPLATE
• The Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT) working template serves as a
structured approach for therapists, particularly those new to the model. It
offers steps and questions designed to facilitate collaboration between
therapist and client. The template provides initial questions under each
heading, guiding the therapist through the process while encouraging
curiosity about the client's expertise. While there's no one-size-fits-all
script for therapy sessions, this template aims to spark learning and
implementation of the SFT model.
• Phase 1: Joining and Building Rapport
• Introduce yourself and greet everyone in the room. Be friendly and
curious. Explain your role as a solution-focused family therapist, one who
listens for strengths and abilities.

• a momentary glimpse of what they wish life to be. Use the exceptions
identified in the sessions as tools for clients to use in between sessions as
tasks. Use presuppositional language to promote change in the future. Use
the scaling question to rate where the client begins and as change occurs.
• Phase 2: Understanding the Presenting Issue
• In solution-focused brief therapy, the therapist listens empathetically and
is curious about what the clients expect to accomplish in therapy. Pay
attention to the strengths and resources of the clients in their personal and
professional lives. Help the client to see themselves as competent. Here
are some comments or questions that a therapist might use during this
phase:
• - What are your best hopes for today? (Ask each person.)
• - How will you know, someday soon, when your best hopes are realized?
• - What will others notice? What else?
• Phase 3: Assessment of Family Dynamics
• The solution-focused therapist sees clients as competent people who have
forgotten times and strategies when things were better. Through questions
in Phase 4, the therapist will begin to disrupt the current beliefs about the
problem that lead to problematic times and assist the family in
constructing a healthier context.
• Phase 4: Goals
• The solution-focused therapist works with the client to describe a
preferred future that will be meaningful and relevant to the client. In
working with COUPLES, the therapist ensures specificity when
constructing the preferred future so that each person knows what other
family members need from them to help the preferred future come to
fruition. Here are some comments or questions that a therapist might use
during this phase:
• - The miracle question: Suppose tonight while you sleep, a miracle
occurs. When you wake up tomorrow, what will be different? Who will be
there? What will you be doing?
• - When things get better someday soon, what will you be doing
differently?
• - Someday, after this problem is resolved, what will I see you doing that
will let us both know that the problem is solved?
• Phase 5: Amplifying Change
• The therapist explores for exceptions with COUPLES and individuals to
find times when the preferred future has already occurred. Here are some
comments or questions that a therapist might use during this phase:
• - Could each of you describe times when the problem occurs less?
• - What difference did that make for you?
• - On a scale of 1 to 10, where are you today? Where would you like to be
next week?
• Phase 6: Termination
• Each week, ask the clients whether they wish to come back, and, if so,
when. If a client decides to terminate, the following question is useful and
gives both client and therapist reassurance of the process:
• - What did we do during our time together that you found helpful, if
anything?

• Throughout the sessions, keep the conversation as problem-free as

possible. Let the client guide you toward their goal and avoid letting your
ideas on what needs to change interfere. Use the miracle question as a
goal-setting question to assist the client in stepping out of their problem-
saturated world into