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What is Solutions - Focused Therapy?
Solutions-focused therapy (also known as solutions-focused brief therapy) is a powerful type of therapy that can make a lasting impact quickly. It was developed in an inner-city outpatient mental health service setting which explains its efficient and practical approach.
It stems from the premise that people create their own reality and are capable of directing their lives in meaningful ways. The role of a solutions-focused therapist is therefore not to teach new skills or dissect a client’s history, but rather to assist clients in reaching their self-determined goals.
Solutions-focused therapy is a strength-based approach. This means it focuses on the abilities of the client through a hopeful lens and believes in their capabilities to improve their lives. The therapist helps by collaborating with the client to come up with realistic solutions for their problems while offering encouragement and support every step of the way.
How Does Solutions Focused Therapy Work?
Solutions-focused therapy follows a relatively consistent framework, although therapists may choose to blend different schools of thought to create their own unique approach.
The 3 basic principles of solutions-focused therapy are that it deals primarily with the present and future rather than the past, it’s focused on solutions rather than problems, and it’s designed to collaboratively direct clients towards actions that help them attain their goals.
From the very first session, clients will find themselves engaging in useful discussions with their therapist about what they want their future life to look like. The therapist will help translate these aspirations into measurable goals and assist their client in formulating an actionable plan.
The intention behind this method is to inspire the client’s sense of self-efficacy by helping them solve their own problems. The client is treated as the expert of their own life, and the therapist functions as a guiding support rather than an authority figure or teacher.
Is Solutions Focused Therapy Right For Me?
Solutions-focused therapy has some unique qualities that set it apart from most other kinds of talk therapy. It can be useful for a range of circumstances and issues such as depression, anxiety, interpersonal problems, addiction, stress, or behavioural problems, but it does have limitations.
The main benefit of solutions-focused therapy is its efficiency, which also translates to better affordability. Even just 5-8 sessions have been repeatedly shown to be enough to make a transformative difference in participants’ lives.
This type of therapy tends to be most effective when the client is motivated and willing to put significant effort into changing their behaviours and circumstances. Clients who have a particular problem they want to overcome or a vision for their future may also have a headstart on making positive progress.
A few instances where solutions-focused therapy may not be suitable are for highly traumatized clients or people with severe mental health concerns.
How Can Solutions Focused Therapy Help?
Perhaps the most valuable thing solutions-focused therapy can leave clients with is an increased sense of competency, hope, empowerment and self-esteem.
It takes a positive outlook on each person’s situation by highlighting their individual strengths and pointing out the areas they’re able to exercise more intentional control over their future. This can lead to an increased ability to problem solve and overcome future difficulties well after solutions-focused therapy sessions have concluded.
More specific outcomes frequently seen from solutions-focused therapy are decreased addiction severity, fewer marital and relationship issues, better parenting, fewer behavioural issues in children, and lessened experiences of depression and anxiety.
In sum, solutions-focused therapy can be equally as effective as other forms of talk therapy for many clients, and it’s very often a quick way to see positive effects from therapy.
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