ABSTRACT
The Solution-Focused Brief Therapy approach is described in some detail, starting with the development of the approach. Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg trained at the Mental Research Institute in Palo Alto, California, and kept close relationships with John Weakland until he died. The chapter covers the basic stance of SFBT, concepts, and practices. Characteristics of the approach include focusing on clients’ preferred futures instead of deconstructing problems, especially the idea that solutions are not always clearly connected to problems. Famous practices such as the miracle question, exceptions, scaling, and relationship questions are discussed. The role of emotions in therapy and changes in the use of the approach over time also are discussed.
