Advanced Certificate in Solution-Focused Practice

The Advanced Certificate in Solution-Focused Practice is a comprehensive, in-depth training grounded in the evidence-based model of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT). This course teaches how to conduct solution-focused conversations in astructured and consistent way, focusing on how to ask questions, respond to what is said, and guide conversations toward clear next steps. This course does not require prior training in Solution-Focused Brief Therapy.

All course materials are included within the course platform. This includes Learning Solution-Focused Therapy: An Illustrated Guide, provided in full at no additional cost, with 30 embedded video demonstrations showing how the approach is carried out in conversation. The course also includes over 20 additional video demonstrations, video lectures, guided practice exercises, case examples, supplemental articles and chapters, and practical resources designed for immediate use.

Across these materials, participants observe how solution-focused language is used in conversation, including amygdala whispering, clarifying a person’s words, identifying best hopes, mapping VIPs, amplifying positive differences, and using scaling to support agency, develop next steps, and build a clear plan.

This is a “how-to” course. Participants learn how to ask questions that help people identify what is working, clarify what they want to do instead, and take concrete next steps. The approach is used across education, healthcare, leadership, and community-based settings to guide conversations from problem descriptions to solutions and the next steps people will take.

● Participants learn solution-focused strategies to:
● Guide brief conversations from problems to solutions and the next steps people will take
● Build engagement quickly in brief conversations in complex, high-stress situations
● Elicit hope, strengthen agency, and develop a clear plan
● Draw out strengths and positive differences that help people move forward
● Designed for professionals across disciplines who rely on effective, goal-directed conversations

Designed for individual practitioners and interdisciplinary teams across healthcare, education, leadership, and community-based settings who rely on effective, goal-directed brief conversations.

Last Updated: May 2026

Target Audience:

Designed for professionals who rely on effective, goal-directed brief conversations across healthcare, education, leadership, and community-based settings, including:

● Social Workers
● Psychologists
● Licensed Mental Health and Professional Counselors
● Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, and Nurses
● Occupational Therapists and Rehabilitation Professionals
● Chaplains and Spiritual Care Providers
● Educators and School-Based Professionals
● Coaches and Consultants
● Recovery Coaches and Peer Support Specialists
● Case Managers and Care Coordinators
● Leaders, Supervisors, and Program Managers working with individuals, families, and teams

The Institute for Solution-Focused Therapy and all instructional personnel involved in this continuing education program have no relevant financial relationships or conflicts of interest to disclose. This course is presented for educational purposes only and is free from commercial support or product endorsement.

By the end of this program, participants will be able to:

1. Differentiate key components of solution-focused and problem-focused conversations by selecting the correct distinctions in case-based multiple-choice questions.
2. Identify core solution-focused assumptions by selecting accurate statements in multiple-choice and case-based assessments.
3. Identify core solution-focused questions used in clinical practice by selecting correct examples in case-based and video-based multiple-choice items.
4. Select appropriate solution-focused language strategies by choosing responses that reflect active verbs, positive vocabulary, and appreciative narratives in case-based multiple-choice questions.
5. Differentiate the use of direct compliments, indirect compliments, coping questions, and amplification of positive differences by selecting correct applications in scenario-based multiple-choice items.
6. Identify solution-focused questioning techniques that enhance engagement by selecting correct examples in case-based and video-based multiple-choice assessments.
7. Select appropriate applications of solution-focused amygdala whispering and yes-set techniques by choosing correct responses in scenario-based multiple-choice exercises.
8. Identify solution-focused VIP mapping categories and their role in relationships by selecting the correct examples in case-based multiple-choice assessments.
9. Identify solution-focused goal negotiation techniques, including the best hope question, imagining a satisfying week, and the miracle question, by selecting correct applications in video-based and case-based multiple-choice items.
10. Differentiate solution-focused scaling questions that activate agency from problem-focused scaling questions that assess acuity by selecting correct distinctions in case-based multiple-choice questions.
11. Select appropriate uses of solution-focused scaling questions to enhance agency and plan development in case-based and video-based multiple-choice assessments.
12. Differentiate solution-focused safety assessment from problem-focused risk assessment by selecting the correct distinctions in case-based multiple-choice questions.
13. Select appropriate follow-up questions that activate agency and promote planning by choosing the correct responses in scenario-based multiple-choice items.
14. Differentiate solution-focused and problem-focused assessment questions across clinical domains (e.g., mood, anxiety, trauma, relationships, substance use) by selecting correct examples in case-based multiple-choice questions.
15. Identify key components of a solution-focused safety assessment plan by selecting the correct elements in case-based multiple-choice assessments.
16. Identify solution-focused questions appropriate for consultations and team meetings by selecting the correct examples in case-based and video-based multiple-choice items.
17. Select solution-focused interventions applicable to substance use by choosing appropriate responses in case-based multiple-choice assessments.
18. Identify key findings from solution-focused research and their clinical implications by selecting the correct interpretations in multiple-choice questions.
19. Select solution-focused interventions applicable to anxiety, ADHD, substance use, and medication-related contexts by choosing appropriate responses in case-based multiple-choice assessments.

Course Components

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

1. Course Introduction
2. Written Materials
3. Video Lecture and demonstrations
4. Exam Instructions and Exam Preview
5. Complete the course exam and receive a passing grade of 80%
6. Course Evaluation
7. Certificate of Completion

22 CE Credit/Clock Hours are available for this course.

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

The Institute for Solution-Focused Therapy offers continuing education credits. Click here for more information:

Participants are encouraged to check with their professional licensing boards to make sure that a specific course will be accepted for their continuing education requirements.

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 22 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 22 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 22 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.

No conflicts of interest or commercial support are present for the CE program, instructor, or presentation.

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

Our complete list of policies can be viewed here.