Solution Focused Brief Therapy

The Solution-Focused Brief Therapy approach is an evidence-based therapeutic approach which immediately appeals to many practitioners because it seems conceptually very simple; however, it is easy to underestimate the discipline that the approach requires to be used effectively. Practitioners rapidly discover that SIMPLE does not necessarily mean EASY! This three-day intensive will do more than just introduce participants to Solution-Focused ideas; it will IMMERSE them in it! This is a "hands-on" course, grounded in the reality of peoples' work with real clients.

The course will discuss the major components or tools of the Solution-Focused approach in detail. It will discuss the development of the approach in the 1980s and 1990s, including the radical shift from a focus on problems to a focus on exceptions to problems and how this led to a curiosity about strengths and successes, and the major move from an exceptions-based approach to a future-focused approach. This training includes actual video of therapy sessions conducted by the founders and developers of the approach, as well as more recent case examples.

The training will also discuss more recent developments in the Solution-Focused approach, including the move to an approach that relies more and more on a detailed description of the different future (a development referred to in one paper as “SFBT 2.0”) and includes a detailed case example reflecting this development, and the more recent development of Solution-Focused application in coaching and organisational settings. The training will include consideration of how the Solution-Focused approach can be used with severe and complex trauma and Michael brings experience of having worked closely with agencies working with people who have experienced trauma from natural disaster and trauma from childhood and adult violence and sexual assault.