Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) is a dynamic and pragmatic approach to psychotherapy that emphasizes solution-building rather than problem-solving.

Developed by spouses Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg in the 1970s and 1980s at the Brief Family Therapy Center in Milwaukee, SFBT diverges from traditional therapeutic methods by focusing on current circumstances and future aspirations, rather than delving into a client’s past.

Strength-Based Approach:

SFBT operates from a strength-based perspective. It acknowledges that individuals are meaning makers and creators of their own realities. The therapist views change as inevitable and encourages clients to harness their innate capacity for positive transformation.

Not-Knowing Stance:

Unlike traditional therapists who position themselves as experts, SFBT therapists adopt a “not-knowing” stance. They recognize the client as the expert in their own life and collaborate with them to explore their strengths, resources, and desires.

Techniques and Questions:

• SFBT therapists facilitate conversations rather than imposing solutions. They use a variety of techniques and questions to highlight what is already working in the client’s life.


• One powerful technique is the “Miracle Question”:


• The therapist asks the client to imagine a miracle occurs when they are sleeping at night, completely resolving the issue that brought them to therapy.


• Upon waking up, the client reflects on the small changes that would make them realize the problem is gone.


• This question opens up possibilities and encourages clients to envision a future without the problem.

SFBT is short-term and goal-oriented. It concentrates on setting achievable goals and determining how to reach them. Rather than dwelling on past issues, it encourages clients to focus on what they can do in the present and future.