Solution-Focused Therapy was founded in the late 1970s by two therapists named Insoo Kim Berg and Steve de Shazer (who was previously trained as a classical musician and worked as a jazz saxophonist – so interesting!). They worked together at Milwaukee Brief Family Center. Solution-Focused therapy is considered to be a briefer kind of therapy and is a strength-based approach. In this approach, the therapist and client focus on what is working in their life and overall. The role of the therapist resembles more of a consultant where the therapist works with the client on what is working and what is not working. The goals are what the client wants to achieve. While using this theory in therapy, the therapist might ask what is called, ¨miracle questions¨ such as, ¨What would life look like if you did not have these problems? ¨ to help the client gain perspective and clarity. Solution-Focused Therapy has a focus on resources such as social supports, or other, and skills. It is common to bridge on previous coping of the client and to use scaling questions of 1-10 to get a better sense of the impact of the problem for example. Change happens by accessing inner resources to formulate a solution.
