The solution focused brief therapy approach

The Solution Focused model of interventions is underpinned by the beliefs that it is the client who is the true harbinger of change; everyone has strengths, competencies and resources and the key to successful therapy, supervision or education is to identify clear goals and find the quickest way there.

A Solution Focused practitioner works on the basis that the problem is something that the client wants to change and that it is the client who has the necessary resources - skills, strengths, competencies and experiences - to resolve their issues, and the role of the practitioner to look for ways to enable the client to identify and embrace them.  

Therefore, together the worker and the client formulate the client’s unique way of addressing the given issue according to the specific context of the client’s values, beliefs, and culture. Whatever the client does represents their best attempt to resolve the situation and the expertise of the worker lies in having access to ways of talking with and thinking about clients which are associated with the client finding ways of resolving the issues.

The Solution Focused practitioner treats clients as experts in all aspects of their lives and therefore works with the client rather than the problem; looking for resources rather than deficits by exploring possible and preferred futures as well as what the client is already doing to realise those goals.

The empowering process encourages clients to take responsibility for their lives through empowerment and resilience-building.

Food for thought

'The more and more you listen, the more and more you hear; the more and more you hear, the deeper and deeper your understanding becomes.'

Sogyal Rinpoche

'If your mind is empty, it is always ready for anything; it is open to everything. In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, in the expert’s mind there are few.'

Shunryu Suzuki