Brief Solution-Focused Family Therapy (SFFT) is a brief, goal-oriented therapeutic approach that emphasizes finding solutions to problems rather than focusing on the problems themselves. Developed by Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg in the 1980s, it is rooted in the idea that families have the strengths and resources to overcome challenges. I provide solution-focused therapy for families where the children are older adolescents and adults, given that the virtual treatment approach does not work as well for younger children. If you have specific questions about solution-focused family therapy interventions and how they might work for you, please feel free to contact me or schedule a consultation anytime.
Solution-Focused Family Therapy Overview
The following is an overview of solution-focused therapy with families, followed by two examples of these practice methods.
Core Principles of Solution-Focused Therapy with Families
- Focus on Solutions, Not Problems: Solution-focused family therapy interventions help identify and build upon what is working.
- Strength-Based Approach: Members are viewed as capable of creating solutions.
- Future-Oriented: Solution-focused family therapy focuses on envisioning the future where the problem is resolved.
- Small Changes Lead to Bigger Changes: Even small, incremental changes can disrupt unhelpful patterns and create positive momentum.
- Families Know Best: I collaborate with the family, believing they are the experts on their own lives.
Solution-Focused Family Therapy Interventions
These are some of the more common brief solution-focused family therapy interventions I provide:
- Miracle Question
- A question that invites members to envision a future without the current problem:
“If a miracle happened tonight and the problem was gone, what would be different in your life tomorrow?”
- A question that invites members to envision a future without the current problem:
- Scaling Questions
- Asking clients to rate their problems’ severity or progress on a scale of 0–10.
- Example: “On a scale of 1 to 10, how confident can you solve this problem? What would help you move up one point?”
- Exception Questions
- Identifying times when the problem did not occur to highlight strengths and effective behaviors.
- Example: “Can you think of a time when this problem wasn’t happening? What was different then?”
- Coping Questions
- Recognizing resilience and ability to cope, even when things are difficult.
- Example: “How have you managed to keep things from getting worse?”
- Compliments and Reinforcement
- Acknowledging members’ efforts and strengths to empower and motivate change.
Goals of Solution-Focused Family Therapy
- Solution-focused therapy for families helps members set clear, realistic, and achievable goals.
- Solution-focused therapy for families identifies and amplifies solutions that already work.
- This approach shifts the focus from problems to possibilities.
- This approach also fosters hope and confidence in the family’s ability to resolve challenges.
When It’s Used
Solution-focused family therapy interventions are particularly effective for:
- Family therapy is needed for communication or nurturance issues
- Parent-child conflicts or sibling rivalries
- Times of life transitions and other adjustment-based stress
- Couples or family members dealing with stress or crises
- Situations where one member has expressed a concern about the group’s functioning
Key Advantage of Brief Solution-Focused Family Therapy
Solution-focused family therapy interventions are time-efficient and empowering. They focus on the family’s strengths, making them a positive and motivating approach for those seeking fast, practical solutions.
Brief Solution-Focused Family Therapy Case Example 1: Adolescent
Here is a case example illustrating the use of Brief Solution-Focused Family Therapy:
Case Overview
- Presenting Problem: A family seeks solution-focused family therapy because their 15-year-old daughter, Emily, refuses to do her homework and frequently argues with her parents. The parents feel frustrated and exhausted, while Emily feels misunderstood and criticized.
- Family System Dynamics:
- The parents focus heavily on what Emily is not doing, which escalates tension.
- Emily avoids discussing school and withdraws when criticized.
- Both parents feel stuck in a cycle of nagging and arguing.
Solution-Focused Family Therapy Interventions
- Establishing Goals for brief solution-focused family therapy
- I begin by asking them what they would like to achieve:
- “If this problem were solved, what would be different?”
- The family responds:
- Emily: “My parents would stop nagging me, and I’d feel less stressed about homework.”
- Parents: “Emily would do her homework without us arguing about it.”
- Purpose: This focuses on a clear, positive future goal rather than the problem itself.
- I begin by asking them what they would like to achieve:
- The Miracle Question
- I ask:
- “Suppose a miracle happens tonight while you’re sleeping, and when you wake up, the problem is gone. How would you know the miracle happened?”
- Responses:
- Emily: “I would get my homework done right after school, and my parents wouldn’t keep asking me about it.”
- Parents: “We’d feel calmer and wouldn’t need to remind Emily constantly.”
- Purpose: This helps them envision a solution and identify small, achievable changes.
- I ask:
- Scaling Questions
- I ask them to rate the situation on a scale of 0 to 10:
- “On a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 is ‘Emily never does homework,’ and 10 is ‘she does it without reminders,’ where are you now?”
- Emily says “4,” and the parents agree.
- I then ask:
- “What would it take to move from a 4 to a 5? What small step could each of you take?”
- Responses:
- Emily: “Maybe I could try starting my homework before dinner.”
- Parents: “We could agree to check in just once after school instead of asking repeatedly.”
- Purpose: Scaling breaks progress into small, manageable steps and reduces overwhelm.
- I ask them to rate the situation on a scale of 0 to 10:
- Exception Questions
- I explore times when the problem did not occur:
- “Tell me about a time when Emily did her homework without arguments. What was different?”
- The parents recall that Emily did her homework on the weekend without prompting because she wanted extra time to play a game afterward.
- I highlight this exception and asks:
- “How can you do more of what worked then?”
- They establish a similar system where Emily does her homework before playing games.
- Purpose: This helps them recognize their strengths and identify practical solutions based on what already works.
- I explore times when the problem did not occur:
- Compliments and Reinforcement
- Throughout the session, I reinforce their efforts:
- “It sounds like you’re already taking steps in the right direction. Emily, it’s great that you suggested starting homework before dinner—that shows you’re motivated.”
- “You’ve worked together before to create positive changes, and I’m confident you can do it again.”
- Purpose: Compliments build confidence, motivation, and hope for their ability to resolve the issue.
- Throughout the session, I reinforce their efforts:
Brief Solution-Focused Family Therapy Outcome
- After a few sessions of brief solution-focused family therapy interventions:
- Emily starts her homework right after school 4 out of 5 weekdays.
- The parents reduce their reminders to a single check-in, which reduces arguments.
- They all report feeling calmer, more connected, and proud of their progress.
This case example demonstrates how Solution-Focused Therapy with Families helps identify goals, recognize strengths, and take small, actionable steps to create positive changes while staying focused on solutions rather than problems.
Brief Solution-Focused Family Therapy Case Example 2: Grown Children
Here is an example of solution-focused therapy with families that have grown children:
Case Overview
- Structure:
- Parents (Mary and John, in their 60s)
- Two adult children (Anna, 30, and Mike, 28)
- Presenting Problem:
- The family is experiencing tension because Anna recently moved back home due to financial difficulties. Mary (the mother) feels overwhelmed by Anna’s presence, while Mike feels neglected because his parents are focused on Anna. They argue frequently, and everyone feels disconnected.
- Family Dynamics:
- Mary feels responsible for “fixing” Anna’s problems.
- John avoids the conflict by withdrawing and staying out of discussions.
- Anna feels criticized and unsupported, and Mike resents the attention Anna receives.
Brief Solution-Focused Family Therapy Interventions
- Establishing Goals
- I start by asking each member:
“What do you hope to achieve from therapy? What would things look like if the problems were solved?” - Responses:
- Mary: “I want to feel less stressed and stop feeling like I have to fix everything for Anna.”
- Anna: “I’d like my parents to trust that I’m trying to figure things out and not criticize me so much.”
- John: “I’d like the family to argue less and feel more peaceful at home.”
- Mike: “I want to feel like I matter too, and I’d like more time with my parents.”
- Purpose: This helps them identify shared goals and shift focus from problems to solutions.
- I start by asking each member:
- The Miracle Question
- I ask:
“Suppose a miracle happens tonight while you sleep, and when you wake up, everything is better. What would be different?” - Responses:
- Mary: “I’d feel calmer, and we’d all talk without arguing.”
- Anna: “My parents would ask how they can support me instead of assuming I’m failing.”
- John: “I’d feel included and able to help without avoiding the issues.”
- Mike: “I’d feel like part of the family again, and we’d spend more time together.”
- Purpose: This exercise helps them imagine a future where solutions are possible and highlights small, actionable changes.
- I ask:
- Scaling Questions
- I ask each member to rate their current satisfaction with interactions on a scale of 0 to 10.
- Mary: “I’d say a 3.”
- Anna: “A 4.”
- John: “A 5.”
- Mike: “I’d say 2.”
- I then ask:
“What would need to happen to move up one point on the scale?” - Responses:
- Mary: “If Anna helped more around the house, I’d feel less overwhelmed.”
- Anna: “If my mom acknowledged that I’m trying to get back on my feet, that would help.”
- John: “If we sat down and discussed things calmly, I’d feel better.”
- Mike: “If my parents invited me for a dinner or showed more interest in my life, I’d feel included.”
- Purpose: This helps them break progress into small, achievable steps.
- I ask each member to rate their current satisfaction with interactions on a scale of 0 to 10.
- Exception Questions
- I explore times when they gets along well and tension is minimal:
“Tell me about a time when you all felt connected and things were going smoothly.” - Responses:
- Anna: “Last weekend, when we had dinner together and played a board game, everyone seemed happy.”
- John: “Yes, that night felt good because we weren’t talking about problems.”
- I ask:
“What was different about that evening? How can you do more of that?” - They agree to schedule a weekly family dinner where they avoid discussing stressful topics.
- Purpose: Exception questions highlight what works and encourage them to replicate positive behaviors.
- I explore times when they gets along well and tension is minimal:
- Compliments and Reinforcement
- I highlight their strengths and efforts throughout the session:
- “It’s impressive that you’re all here working toward better communication—that shows how much you care about each other.”
- “Mary, it sounds like you’re doing your best to support Anna. That’s a strength, even though it’s overwhelming at times.”
- “Anna, it’s great that you want to take responsibility for your future and repair relationships at the same time.”
- Purpose: Reinforcing strengths builds hope and motivation for change.
- I highlight their strengths and efforts throughout the session:
Solution-Focused Family Therapy Outcome
- After several sessions of solution-focused family therapy interventions:
- Mary reduces her involvement in Anna’s day-to-day struggles, allowing Anna to feel more independent.
- Anna takes on small household responsibilities, which reduces Mary’s stress.
- John becomes more engaged, initiating family dinners and encouraging calm discussions.
- Mike feels included as the family dedicates time to activities that involve everyone.
- They all report improved communication, fewer arguments, and a stronger sense of connection.
This case example demonstrates how Solution-Focused Family Therapy helps families identify goals, build on strengths, and take small, actionable steps toward positive change, even when dealing with complex dynamics involving grown children.
Summary and My Work
Core Principles of Solution-Focused Therapy for Families:
In summary, solution-focused therapy for families is a short-term, goal-oriented therapeutic approach focusing on finding solutions rather than analyzing problems. It’s especially effective because it emphasizes strengths, collaboration, and practical steps toward positive change. Solution-focused therapy for families has the following advantages:
- Solution-focused Therapy for Families Focuses on Solutions, Not Problems:
- Instead of digging into the root causes of issues, solution-focused therapy for families emphasizes what the family wants to achieve and how they can get there.
- Solution-focused therapy for families Uses a Strength-Based Approach:
- Highlights and builds on their strengths, past successes, and resilience.
- Solution-focused Therapy for Families Uses Future-Oriented Goals:
- I help them envision their desired future and set clear, achievable goals.
- Solution-focused Therapy for Families Uses Small, Achievable Steps:
- They are encouraged to make small, practical changes that lead to meaningful improvements over time.
- Solution-focused Therapy for Families Uses Exception-Finding Questions:
- I ask about times when the problem was not present or was less intense, exploring what was different and why it worked.
My Work
I provide virtual brief solution-focused family therapy interventions when the children are adolescents or adults (including sibling therapy for adults), often mixing in other approaches such as emotion-focused family therapy, brief strategic family therapy, family systems therapy, and narrative family therapy. This approach is most helpful when challenges and barriers are due to specific transitions or changes in dynamics, as opposed to deeply engrained and longstanding issues. It works well with adult family therapy and therapy for specific relationships, such as the mother-daughter bond, as the members face transitions together. It can also be used alongside parental counseling for couples working on their parenting strategies and in adult child estrangement therapy.
If you have any questions about solution-focused family therapy or want to discuss how it might help your family, please feel free to contact me or schedule a consultation anytime.
