Solution Focused

Solution Focused Therapy (SFT) or Brief Therapy (BT) focus on what we would like in the future and how to get there. This translates into what thoughts or behaviour we would like to perform and what skills do I need to do this.

In contrast, Psycho-Dynamic Therapy focuses on what is going wrong in a person’s life and why that is happening. This translates into what dysfunctional thoughts or behaviour is occurring and how did that develop. By nature of this orientation, the focus is on the past and dysfunction, rather than on the future and desired functioning.

While a knowledge of the past can be helpful to understand why a person thinks and behaves the way they do, this knowledge does not necessarily translate into functional behaviour in the future.

Solution Focused Therapy looks directly at the skills required to perform a particular task. To achieve this, we either engage in skill retrieval or skill development. Skill retrieval can be used if we can remember using the desired skill in the past or elsewhere. We can then simply use this existing skill where it is now needed. If we cannot recall using the skill we need, then we can develop that skill in session or outside of session through homework.