Brief Interventions: Solutions-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the core concepts, techniques, client types, and theoretical foundations of Solutions-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT).

Solutions-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)

A therapeutic approach developed during the 1980s by Steve DeShazer, Bill O’Hanon, and Insoo Kim Berg that focuses on solution-building rather than problem-solving.

Social Constructionism

The worldview underpinning SFBT which suggests that we socially construct our personal meanings and that struggles are part of these constructions.

View of Human Nature in SFBT

A positive and social constructivist view where people are considered basically good, healthy, and experts on their own problems with the capability of behaving effectively.

Milton Erikson's Belief

The idea that people possess the resources and abilities within themselves to solve their own problems even if they do not understand them.

Solution-Building

The core focus of therapy in SFBT, prioritizing a positive focus on the future and what is working, rather than history, deficits, or weaknesses.

Problem-Free Talk

The initial stage of engagement focusing on what is going well in the client's life and highlighting their positive attributes before addressing concerns.

The SFBT Mantra for Solutions

If it ain't broke, don't fix it; once you know what works, do it more; and if it doesn't work, do something different.

Brief Intervention Duration

A typical SFBT course consists of approximately $5$ sessions, each lasting about $45$ minutes.

Customer-type Relationship

A therapeutic dynamic where the client and therapist jointly identify a problem and solution, and the client is motivated to change and perform behavioral tasks.

Complainant Relationship

A dynamic where the client describes a problem but is unwilling or unable to take an active role in constructing a solution, often blaming others.

Visitor-type Relationship

A dynamic where the client attends therapy because someone else believes they have a problem, requiring the counselor to affirm current successes.

Pre-therapy Change

A technique where therapists ask what improvements have occurred between the time the appointment was made and the start of the first session.

Exception Questions

Inquiries that direct clients to times in their lives when the problem did not exist or was less intrusive to identify ingredients for building solutions.

The Miracle Question

A technique asking clients to imagine that while they were asleep, a miracle solved their problem, and to describe what would be different upon waking.

Scaling Questions

A tool used to quantify feelings, aspirations, or progress on a numerical scale, often from $1$ to $10$.

Formula First Session Task

Homework assigned between the first and second sessions that offers hope that change is inevitable by asking clients to observe what works.

Coping Questions

Inquiries into how clients are currently managing their concerns and what keeps them going despite difficult circumstances.

Erickson’s Crystal Ball

A technique where clients look into the future to see themselves as they want to be and then work backwards to explain how that change occurred.

O’Hanlon’s Videotape Question

A prompt asking clients to describe what they would see themselves doing on a recording of their life in the future if their problem were resolved.

De Shazer’s Skeleton Keys

A set of standard interventions, such as 'do something different' or 'observe what works,' designed to give clients hope.

Commendations

A method of acknowledging client strengths and competencies to normalize experiences and promote engagement in the change process.

Consulting Break

A $2-3$ minute pause at the end of a session for the therapist to collect thoughts, consider compliments, and plan feedback or homework.

Limitations of SFBT

It may mechanistic in application, lacks focus on insight, gives little attention to behavioral history, and does not sufficiently address trauma, neglect, or abuse.