6 Powerful Solution-Focused Therapy Exercises

This therapeutic approach encourages focus on the present and motivates people to work on making changes to improve their lives and mental well-being. PESI, Inc. is a provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number for 6.0 contact hours. Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) is an evidence-based, straightforward, result-driven approach to therapy that helps clients become “unstuck” by drawing on their already existing resources and personal strengths. Through easy to learn, simple interventions and principles, SFBT offers you a whole new perspective of what therapy can do. You can expect a minute phone call with our care coordinator, who is extensively trained in ensuring the perfect match for you. During this conversation, our matching expert will collaborate with you to understand your therapy needs, preferences, and scheduling availability.

Best hopes exercise

For individuals with anxiety disorders, SFBT helps by focusing on practical, solution-oriented strategies to manage their anxiety. This involves setting clear, achievable goals and developing concrete plans to address specific fears or worries. Unlike traditional therapies that might examine into the origins of a problem, SFBT aims to discover practical solutions and foster client self-efficacy.

The therapy helps clients set goals related to their eating habits and self-care practices. For example, an SFBT therapist might assist a client in recognizing small but positive changes in their daily routine. This could include setting a goal to engage in a favorite hobby or social activity once a week. The therapist may use scaling questions to help the client assess their mood and motivation levels, guiding them towards achievable, positive steps.

SFBT includes multiple sessions where various techniques are used to help clients find solutions to address specific issues. For example, you might participate in SFBT solution focused therapy activities techniques as part of grief therapy after losing a loved one, or your therapist might use these techniques to help you manage anxiety. When you think of therapy, you might picture multiple sessions where you discuss your past with a therapist. In fact, a very different approach may be helpful for several mental health issues, like depression or anxiety.

Presupposing change

Now that you’ve identified your biggest issue and what would happen if it was magically gone, it’s time to start setting goals for the future and creating a roadmap on how to get there. This is best done with a life coach, counselor, and/or partner in order to have the most effective outcome. The therapy approach, also know as Solution Focused Brief Therapy, is intended to help patients see positive outcomes even if their current state is not ideal.

• We’ve included a link to the PDF template further down this page, alongside a completed SFT worksheet example.
• This course consists of 6.0 continuing education credit hours for Oklahoma Psychologists.
• The Board accepts approvals by any recognized national credentialing body.
• It’s a method that brings clarity to the therapeutic process, helping you to set clear and achievable goals and celebrate each increment of improvement.
• The approach has always been used with children and young people, as well as adults.
• This exercise helps clients visualize their goals and instills hope.

PESI, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s (NYSED) State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) is a practical, goal-directed approach to therapy that concentrates on building solutions rather than dissecting problems. The therapy is based on the belief that clients possess the resources and strengths needed to solve their own issues. SFBT focuses on identifying what works well in a client’s life and amplifying those aspects to bring about positive change. The miracle question is not just about wishful thinking; it’s a deliberate tool used to cultivate optimism and motivation toward change. When clients engage with this question, they lay out a detailed description of how their life would look in the absence of their issues, providing a blueprint for the positive changes they wish to manifest.

With access to online or in-person therapy, SonderMind makes it easy to connect with a compassionate therapist quickly. No matter what type of mental health challenges you may be experiencing, you deserve the support you need to improve your well-being and quality of life. Collaboration is key to any type of therapy, and solution-focused therapy is no different. You and your therapist work together through structured sessions to help you discover your strengths, find solutions, and set goals.

Key Techniques in Solution-Focused Therapy

This  solution-focused approach allows therapists to explore preferred futures and set positive goals. The worksheet incorporates scaling questions to track progress, exception questions to identify times when the issue is less prominent, and coping questions to understand the client’s ability to deal with challenges. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) is a therapeutic approach that emphasizes finding solutions rather than focusing on problems. Developed by Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg, SFBT is designed to be a brief, goal-oriented therapy that helps clients envision and achieve their desired outcomes.

Best Anxiety Therapy Los Angeles: Bay Area CBT Center

• Coping questions are not just about surviving; they’re about recognizing that even in the hardest times, you have been more competent and courageous than you realized.
• What makes the Scaling Exercise particularly powerful is its flexibility.
• Instead of dwelling on problems, the focus is on developing practical, sustainable solutions that align with the client’s desired future, fostering a sense of hope and the belief that change is within reach.
• Traditional talk therapy or psychotherapy begins with gathering detailed historical information.
• This therapy utilizes specific techniques such as scaling questions, miracle questions, and exception finding to help clients achieve significant, meaningful change within a relatively short period.
• It is effective for clients seeking to address specific issues, set goals, and create actionable plans.

Instead, you work toward a future where you’ve overcome your struggles or learned to successfully manage them. We’ll explore this therapeutic approach in the following sections, how it works, and use cases. If you are struggling with your emotions and want help, the best time to call a therapist is now. Mental health is essential and should be given attention as urgent as any other health issue.

This boosts their self-esteem, resilience, and belief in managing their problems. As with depression, SFBT has been an effective form of therapy for mild to moderate cases of anxiety. It has been successfully used to help adults who have generalized anxiety and social anxiety. SFBT has also been shown to be effective in helping adolescents with anxiety.

Bay Area CBT Center

This article provides a comprehensive overview of SFBT, including its foundational concepts, key techniques, applications to psychological conditions, and its effectiveness. Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT) distinguishes itself among therapeutic approaches with its positively oriented, goal-focused sessions that enable clients to promptly identify and work towards their goals. Rather than merely coping with life’s challenges, this approach empowers individuals to thrive amidst them, proving particularly effective in managing life transitions and adjustments. Central to SFT’s success is a collection of solution-focused interventions that foster hope and positive change. Solution-based therapy techniques are practical tools therapists use during sessions to help clients identify their goals, visualize their desired future, and recognize their abilities to effect change. The California Board of Behavioral Sciences accepts CE programs that are approved by other approval agencies, including several that approve PESI and its programs.