Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) was developed by Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg and their colleagues beginning in the late 1970’s in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The entire solution-focused approach was developed inductively in an inner city outpatient mental health service setting in which clients were accepted without previous screening (Institute for Solution-Focused Therapy, n.d.). The developers of SFBT spent hundreds of hours observing therapy sessions over the course of several years, carefully noting the therapists’ questions, behaviors, and emotions that occurred during the session and how the various activities of the therapists affected the clients and the therapeutic outcome of the sessions (Institute for Solution-Focused Therapy,
It minimizes emphasis on past failings and problems focuses on clients’ strengths and previous successes. The approach focuses only on the present and future, not the past. SFBT emphasizes clear, concise, realistic goal negotiations. The SFBT approach assumes that all clients have some knowledge of what would make their life better, even though they may need some (at times, considerable) help describing the details of their better life and that everyone who seeks help already possesses at least the minimal skills necessary to create solutions (Institute for Solution-Focused Therapy, n.d.). Solution-focused therapy has been found successful in helping a vast array of people, including couples, families and children. It is thought to work very effectively for those who are keen to embrace change and have a goal-orientated mind-set, as these individuals are often more responsive to therapy techniques (Solution-focused brief therapy,
(Substance Use Disorders, n.d.). According to the DSM-5, a diagnosis of substance use disorder is based on evidence of impaired control, social impairment, risky use, and pharmacological criteria (Substance Use Disorders. (n.d.). Symptoms of substance use disorders may include; behavioral changes, physical changes, and/or social changes. Some behavioral changes may include lacking in motivation, appearing anxious or paranoid, mood swings, irritability, angry outbursts, suspicious or secretive behavior. Physical changes may include weight loss or gain, abnormal pupils, impaired vision or coordination, and overall deterioration of physical appearance. Social changes may include financial problems, legal problems, sudden change in friends and/or