The Solution-Focused Mindset:
Caring for Yourself While Supporting Others

This 2-hour interactive training introduces professionals in higher education and student support services to the foundational concepts of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) through a wellness-centered lens. The course highlights how SFBT tools can be used to support students and to promote clinician and educator self-care and vicarious resilience—the process of drawing strength, meaning, and growth from witnessing the positive coping and recovery of those we serve.

Participants will engage with clinical video demonstrations, case vignettes, and reflective discussion to explore how solution-focused strategies—such as best hopes, questions, scaling, and VIP Mapping—can foster motivation, connection, and emotional regulation, while also cultivating a sustainable and compassionate professional mindset.

This course is grounded in content from Anne Bodmer Lutz, MD’s workbook: The Solution-Focused Mindset for Anxiety and Depression: A Workbook to Manage Emotions, Harness Your Strengths, and Feel Better Now.

• Social workers, psychologists, and mental health counselors.
• College advisors, case managers, student services professionals, faculty, interdisciplinary teams
• All experience levels; introductory focus

By course end, participants will be able to:

1. Identify core principles of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) and describe, using examples from video demonstrations, case vignettes, and group discussion, how these principles can support both student well-being and clinician self-care.

2. Recognize key SFBT techniques—such as best hopes questions, scaling, and VIP Mapping—in instructional materials, and explain how these strategies can be used to enhance student engagement and promote clinician self-care practices.

3. Define the concept of vicarious resilience and discuss how a solution-focused, strengths-based mindset can reduce compassion fatigue and support ongoing self-care practices in professional roles.

Hour 1:

• Welcome and overview: Caring for yourself while supporting others
• Introduction to core SFBT principles: best hopes, scaling, and VIP Mapping
• Case vignette and group discussion: Applying SFBT to support student well-being and nurture clinician self-care

Hour 2: Self-Care Practices and Vicarious Resilience

Demonstrate key SFBT techniques—such as best hopes, scaling, and VIP Mapping—using vignettes and video examples. Discuss how these tools can support immediate next steps for students and strengthen coordination with campus partners.

This course consists of the following components. The program must be completed in order, and your certificate of completion will only be given once all components are complete.

• Guided group reflection: Exploring personal experiences of vicarious resilience
• Self-care integration: Using solution-focused questions to support your own well-being
• Video observation: SFBT in action with a student navigating stress and change
• Closing discussion and written reflection: Action steps for maintaining well-being in your role

Participants will be assessed in the following manner:

• Class Participation: Participants are invited to clarify things they do not understand, pose questions, offer ideas, and broaden perspectives. Attend the entire live session (cameras on unless accommodation granted)
• Actively participate in activities and discussions
• Complete the post-session evaluation.
• Receive their Certificate of Completion upon meeting all requirements.

After you have completed all of the sections, passed each of the section exams, and completed the course evaluation, you will receive your certificate of completion. You will be able to save and print the certificate.

2 CE Credit/Clock Hours are available for this live course.

Please see our Continuing Education Information page for information about CE credits, clock hours, and our accreditations and approvals for psychologists, social workers, counselors, and occupational therapists.

The Institute for Solution-Focused Therapy offers continuing education credit for this live, interactive 2-hour course. Participants must attend the full session with their cameras on, actively engage in course activities, and complete a post-course evaluation to receive a certificate of completion.

Psychologists

The Institute for Solution-Focused Therapy, LLC, is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Institute for Solution-Focused Therapy, LLC, maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Psychologists completing this course receive 2 continuing education hours.

The Institute is also recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists (#PSY-0127).

Social Workers

The Institute for Solution-Focused Therapy, provider number 1831, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 9/22/2023 – 9/22/2026. Social workers completing this course receive 2 Clinical continuing education credits.

The Institute is also approved by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work (#SW-0656), and by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling.

Counselors

The Institute for Solution-Focused Therapy, LLC has been approved by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7049. The Institute for Solution-Focused Therapy, LLC, is solely responsible for all aspects of the program. Counselors completing this course receive 2 clock hours.

The Institute is also approved by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors (#MHC-0233), and by the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board.

Participants should check with their professional licensing boards to ensure that a specific course will be accepted for their continuing education requirements.

To receive continuing education hours, the participant must attend the entire online presentation with their camera on, engage in all activities, and complete the course evaluation.

Once enrolled, you may begin your course at any time.

Our complete list of policies can be viewed here.