Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
Goal- and strengths-oriented brief therapy focused on what's already working and what a preferred future looks like, distinct from coaching in that it's delivered by a licensed clinician.
Solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) deliberately spends less time on problem history and more on identifying what's already working, even a little, and building toward a clearly defined preferred future. A signature technique is the "miracle question," imagining that a problem was solved overnight and describing, in detail, what would be different, which helps clarify concrete, achievable goals. SFBT is typically brief by design, often just a handful of sessions, and can be delivered as a standalone approach or blended into other clinical modalities.
Brief, goal-focused therapy centered on solutions and existing strengths rather than problem history.
What to expect: Sessions are focused and goal-oriented from the start, expect direct questions about what you want to be different and when you've already experienced even small exceptions to the problem. The "miracle question" or similar exercises are common early on to clarify a concrete picture of progress. SFBT is typically short-term, sometimes as few as one to eight sessions, with clear check-ins on progress toward the goal you defined together.
Good fit for: You want brief, focused work rather than long-term open-ended therapy, You respond well to goal-setting and tracking concrete progress, You're able to identify at least a general sense of what you want to be different
Explore for: Wanting a brief, focused approach rather than open-ended, long-term therapy, Feeling stuck and needing help identifying a concrete next step, A preference for building on strengths rather than dissecting problems, A specific, definable goal you want support working toward
Not the right fit if: You want to spend significant time exploring history or root causes, Your concern feels too complex or unclear to define as a specific goal yet
How to choose a practitioner: Confirm the therapist is licensed, SFBT is a clinical approach, not a coaching framework Ask how many sessions they typically recommend for a concern like yours Clarify whether they use SFBT exclusively or blend it with other approaches
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