Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)

What is Solution Focused Brief Therapy?

Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) is a goal-directed psychological approach that focuses on where you want to go, rather than on an extended analysis of where things went wrong. Developed by Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg in the 1970s and 80s, SFBT is built on a simple but powerful premise: people already have strengths and resources, and therapy is most useful when it helps them notice and build on what is already working.

SFBT is not about ignoring problems or pretending difficulties do not exist. It acknowledges what is hard. But rather than spending the majority of sessions exploring the history and causes of a problem in depth, SFBT orients the conversation toward a clear picture of the preferred future and the small, practical steps that move toward it.

The “brief” in SFBT refers to the orientation of the approach: efficient, focused, and forward-moving. It does not mean a fixed number of sessions. Some people find that a short, focused course of sessions is enough. Others use SFBT as part of a broader therapeutic approach over a longer period.

How SFBT works

SFBT shifts the focus of therapy from problem analysis to solution building. Rather than spending extended time on the question “why is this happening?”, SFBT focuses on “what would things look like if this were better?” and works backwards from there.

SFBT uses a distinctive set of questions and techniques to facilitate this shift:

• The Miracle Question: “Suppose that while you were asleep tonight, a miracle happened and this problem was solved. When you woke up tomorrow, what would be different? How would you know?” This question helps clarify the preferred future in concrete, observable terms.
• Scaling Questions: “On a scale of 0 to 10, where are things right now? What would a 6 look like? What is already getting you to a 4?” Scales make progress visible and help identify small, realistic next steps.
• Exception Questions: “When is the problem a little less present? What is different then?” Identifying exceptions to the problem reveals existing strengths and strategies that can be built upon.

What is SFBT used for?

SFBT is versatile and has been applied across a broad range of contexts. It tends to work particularly well when someone has a clear sense of wanting things to be different, and when they are ready to focus on forward movement rather than extended problem analysis.

• Anxiety and worry about the future
• Low mood and motivational difficulties
• Stress and work-related burnout
• Parenting challenges and family difficulties
• Adolescent mental health and school-related concerns
• Life transitions and adjustment
• Relationship and communication difficulties
• Building confidence and self-direction

SFBT is particularly well-suited to work with children and adolescents. Young people often respond well to its forward-focused, strengths-based orientation. It feels collaborative rather than analytical, and does not require extended retrospective discussion.

Is SFBT right for me?

SFBT tends to suit people who are ready to focus on what they want rather than spending extended time on what has gone wrong. It is practical and oriented toward concrete change, which some people find energising, and others find too fast-moving before they have had the chance to fully process their experience.

It may be a good fit if you have a clear sense that you want things to be different and want to focus on moving forward, you are looking for a relatively brief, practical approach, or you feel like you have already spent enough time on the problem and are ready to focus on what comes next.

It may not be the best fit if you are looking to work through complex trauma, deeply embedded relational patterns, or experiences that feel like they need to be understood before change can happen. In those situations, a trauma-focused or attachment-informed approach is likely more appropriate.

SFBT is often used alongside other approaches at Zen Society rather than exclusively. Your psychologist can discuss what mix of approaches makes most sense for your situation.

SFBT at Zen Society

SFBT sits within the broader integrated approach at Zen Society. Rather than being used in isolation, it is typically woven into sessions alongside other evidence-based approaches depending on what is most useful for the individual at a given point in the work.

Its forward-focused, strengths-based orientation fits naturally with Zen Society’s broader philosophy: meeting people where they are, building on what is already there, and moving at a pace that makes sense for them.

SFBT is used across age groups at Zen Society and is particularly well-suited to work with children and adolescents, where its collaborative and non-analytical style tends to land well.

SFBT at Zen Society is offered by Dr Sophie Pitt, Clinical Psychologist (BBSc Hons, DocPsych Child, MAPS).

Frequently asked questions

How many sessions does SFBT involve?

SFBT is described as “brief” because it is efficient and goal-directed, not because it has a set number of sessions. Some people find that a short course of 4 to 8 sessions is enough to make meaningful progress. Others continue for longer, or integrate SFBT within a broader, more extended therapeutic approach. At Zen Society, the number of sessions is guided by the individual and reviewed as the work progresses.

Does SFBT ignore the problem entirely?

No. SFBT acknowledges the problem and takes it seriously. The difference is in where the focus of the session goes. Rather than an extended exploration of causes and history, SFBT spends more time on what a better situation looks like and what steps already exist in that direction. The problem is the starting point, not the destination of every conversation.

Is SFBT suitable for children?

Yes. SFBT is particularly well-suited to children and adolescents. Its collaborative, forward-focused style tends to engage young people more effectively than approaches that require extended retrospective discussion. The Miracle Question and scaling questions can be introduced in age-appropriate ways that children find accessible. Parents are typically involved in sessions with younger children to reinforce progress at home.

Can SFBT be combined with other approaches like CBT or ACT?

Yes, and this is common in practice. SFBT’s orientation toward strengths and forward movement can complement the skill-building focus of CBT or the values-based work of ACT. At Zen Society, the approach is adapted to the individual. If elements of SFBT are useful alongside another primary modality, they are integrated into sessions as appropriate rather than kept strictly separate.

Is SFBT covered by Medicare?

Sessions with a Clinical Psychologist at Zen Society are eligible for a Medicare rebate under a valid Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) from your GP, for up to ten sessions per calendar year. What matters is that sessions are with a registered Clinical Psychologist, not the specific therapy type used. If you do not have an MHCP, you can still access sessions as a private client.