In solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT), the aim is not to solve the client’s problems directly but to help them construct a vivid description of the differences that would exist if their desired outcome were achieved. This approach focuses on understanding the changes that would occur rather than prescribing actions to solve problems. SFBT is, therefore, more accurately described as a “difference-focused” rather than a “solution-focused” approach. This section outlines the three types of descriptions used in SFBT to help clients visualize their desired outcomes.
Avoiding Problem-Solving
When clients express desires for outcomes such as clarity, self-knowledge, or peace, the therapist’s role is not to provide solutions or strategies like making a pros and cons list. Instead, the focus is on what life would look like with the desired outcome present.
- Clarifying Misconceptions About SFBT: A common misconception is that SFBT is about finding direct solutions to problems. However, the goal is not to brainstorm ways to achieve clarity or peace but to explore the differences those outcomes would bring if they were already in place. This approach encourages clients to imagine and describe the impact of achieving their desired state rather than focusing on steps to get there.
- Building Descriptions of Differences: The therapeutic task involves constructing a description of what would be different if the desired outcome were present. This shifts the conversation from problem-solving to creating a vision of a preferred future.
Three Types of Descriptions in SFBT
To help clients articulate and realize their desired outcomes, SFBT utilizes three types of descriptions:
- History of the Outcome: This involves exploring moments in the client’s past when they experienced the desired outcome. For example, asking, “When in your past have you experienced clarity?” helps the client reflect on times when they already achieved what they are now seeking.
- Resources for the Outcome: This description focuses on identifying the client’s existing skills, qualities, characteristics, or traits that would support achieving the desired outcome. Questions like, “What strengths or qualities do you have that could help you gain clarity?” encourage clients to recognize their inherent resources and capabilities.
- Future of the Outcome: This involves envisioning what life would look like if the desired outcome were present in the future. Questions such as, “If you had clarity in the future, what would let you know you were moving in the right direction?” help the client imagine their desired state and how they might recognize it unfolding.
Utilizing Descriptions to Foster Capability
By discussing these three types of descriptions, clients often start to realize that aspects of their desired outcome may already be present in their lives. This realization reinforces the notion that they have the capacity to achieve their desired state because they have done so before.
- Reinforcing Client Strengths: Describing past experiences, current resources, and future scenarios helps clients see that they are capable, competent, and have what it takes to achieve their desired outcomes. This approach presupposes that the client already has these abilities and, by describing them, is more likely to recognize and utilize them.
- Connecting Past Achievements to Present Goals: For instance, in the case of Georgia, reflecting on her past accomplishments—such as moving to a new country, building a life, raising children, and earning two degrees—demonstrates her strengths, resilience, and ability to achieve clarity and self-knowledge. Understanding how she navigated these challenges can provide insights into how she can achieve clarity now.
Maintaining a Vision of Client Capability
Therapists must hold a consistent vision of the client’s capability. If a therapist loses this vision, it is essential to pause and ask questions that help reestablish it, reinforcing the belief that clients have the resources they need to achieve their desired outcomes.
- Engaging with the Most Capable Version of the Client: Listening carefully to the client’s narrative allows the therapist to identify the version of the client that is most capable of achieving their goals. For Georgia, this means focusing on her past successes and strengths to support her current decision-making.
Conclusion
In SFBT, the emphasis is on constructing detailed descriptions of desired outcomes rather than providing direct solutions. By exploring the history, resources, and future of the desired outcomes, therapists help clients realize they are already equipped to achieve their goals. This difference-focused approach ensures that clients remain empowered and at the center of their journey toward transformation.