Solution-Focused Brief Therapy for Addiction

What is Solution-Focused Brief Therapy?

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy is a therapeutic approach designed to help people identify and achieve their goals in a relatively short period of time.[1] It’s useful for those seeking practical solutions to a wide range of issues, including substance abuse and co-occurring issues like anxiety, depression, and relationship conflicts.[2]

Unlike traditional psychotherapy models that delve extensively into the past, SFBT is short-term and future-oriented, emphasizing clients’ strengths and resources to facilitate change. One of the key advantages of SFBT is its time efficiency, typically requiring fewer sessions compared to other forms of therapy.

Scaling questions are concise yet powerful tools utilized in SFBT to assess clients’ perceptions of their progress and goals.[3] Therapists often ask clients to rate their current situation on a scale from 0 to 10, with 0 representing the worst possible scenario and 10 representing the ideal outcome. This numerical scale provides a clear framework for clients to reflect on their experiences and identify incremental steps toward their desired goals.

SFBT sessions can take place in various settings, including private practices, community mental health centers, and rehabilitation facilities. The professionals involved in SFBT may include licensed counselors, therapists, social workers, and other healthcare clinicians trained in this approach’s principles and techniques.

How (and Why) Solution-Focused Brief Therapy Works

SFBT operates on the principle that you possess the strengths and resources necessary to create positive change in your life and engage in problem-solving. Unlike traditional therapy models that delve extensively into the past, SFBT focuses on the present and future, emphasizing clients’ abilities to identify and achieve their goals and improve their self-esteem.[4]

The process typically begins with the therapist and client collaboratively setting specific, achievable goals. These goals serve as the guiding framework for the therapy sessions, allowing the focus to remain on solutions rather than dwelling on problems.

The miracle question is a fundamental technique used in Solution-Focused Brief Therapy to help people envision a future free from their current problems.[5] A solution-focused therapist typically asks clients to imagine waking up one morning and discovering that their issues or concerns have miraculously disappeared overnight.

The miracle question encourages hope, creativity, and goal-setting by inviting clients to describe this hypothetical scenario in detail, including how their lives would be different and what steps they would take to maintain these positive changes. It serves as a powerful catalyst for clients to identify their desired outcomes and envision the possibilities for positive change in their lives.

At Crestone Wellness, our implementation of SFBT is grounded in a client-centered approach. We prioritize creating a supportive and non-judgmental environment where our clients feel empowered to explore their strengths and resources. Our solutions-focused practitioners work closely with clients to help them identify their goals and develop actionable steps to move toward them. Therapists facilitate the client’s journey toward their goals and ongoing sobriety through active listening, empathy, and skillful questioning.