Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)

Solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) was developed in the 1980s by Steve de Shazer, Insoo Kim Berg, and colleagues at the Brief Family Therapy Center in Milwaukee. As the name suggests, it is oriented toward solutions rather than prolonged problem analysis: what do you want to be different, what small steps are already happening, and what would tell you that you're moving in the right direction? The approach is collaborative, future-focused, and often brief — though it can be used in longer-term work as well. It assumes that you have resources and strengths to build on, and that change is always possible.

Core Ideas in SFBT

• Goal clarity: What would a better future look like? How would you know things were improving?
• Exceptions: When has the problem been slightly less present? What was different then?
• Scaling: Where are you on a scale of 0–10? What would one point higher look like?
• Small steps: What's one thing you could do before we meet again that would move you forward?

SFBT does not ignore the past or dismiss real pain; it simply chooses to direct attention toward what is changeable and what the client wants to build. For many people, this focus reduces overwhelm and creates a sense of agency.

SFBT at NEST

Several NEST clinicians use solution-focused ideas alongside other modalities — for example, combining SFBT with narrative, person-centered, or cognitive-behavioral approaches. It can be especially useful when you want practical, goal-oriented work or when you're feeling stuck and need a clear frame for "what next." You don't have to have everything figured out; we'll work together to clarify your goals and build on what's already working.