Articles Archives · Solution-Focused Therapy Institute

Beyond Burnout: Cultivating Vicarious Resilience Through Solution-Focused Conversations

Monika Turek2026-08-13T19:16:12+00:00August 13th, 2026|

Helping professionals understand the emotional costs of their work. For decades, research has documented the psychological toll of working alongside people who have endured trauma, adversity, and profound loss (Figley, 1995; Pearlman & Saakvitne, 1995). Burnout, secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue, and vicarious traumatization now shape how the field understands the occupational risks faced Read More >

Solution-Focused Peer Support: Building Community on Campuses

Monika Turek2025-10-24T15:39:49+00:00October 23rd, 2025|

Across the world, communities are facing a crisis of connection. Rates of anxiety, depression, and loneliness are at historic highs, while access to professional mental health care remains limited (U.S. Surgeon General, 2023). On college campuses in particular, the gap between need and capacity continues to widen; students report unprecedented stress, disconnection, and difficulty Read More >

Solution-Focused Violence Prevention

Anne Lutz2026-08-25T18:26:59+00:00August 22nd, 2025|

This article is part of our ongoing work to strengthen safer communities using a solution-focused approach. If you’re interested in applying these ideas in practice, see our new course: Solution-Focused Violence Prevention: Skills and Practice for Agencies Penny Griffith and Collaborative Solutions for Communities have been building something extraordinary in Washington, D.C. For Read More >

Hope as a Lifeline: One Verb at a Time

Monika Turek2025-04-29T12:01:23+00:00April 25th, 2025|

“There are questions which illuminate, and there are those that destroy. We should ask the first kind.” —Isidor Isaac Rabi, Nobel Laureate in Physics, 1944 In an age of relentless noise and accelerating uncertainty, this insight offers a steady call to intentional action. It acknowledges how difficult this time is for all of Read More >

Transforming Loneliness into Connection

Anne Lutz2025-03-07T19:37:08+00:00January 6th, 2025|

Solution-Focused VIP Mapping Solution-focused VIP Mapping provides a transformative approach to turning life’s challenges into opportunities for growth and connection. By identifying and engaging with your Very Important Presences (VIPs)—the people, experiences, and influences that shape your world—you can foster meaningful relationships, cultivate your strengths, and gain clarity, even in moments of loneliness. Read More >

Solution-Focused VIP Mapping Exercise

Anne Lutz2025-03-07T19:37:30+00:00January 6th, 2025|

A Transformative Exercise to Navigate Loneliness and Strengthen Connections This exercise helps you reflect on your life's very important presences (VIPs)—the individuals, influences, and conditions that shape your experiences. By exploring these presences, you’ll gain clarity about their impact, recognize your strengths, and take actionable steps to nurture connections, address challenges, and enhance Read More >

How To Enhance Work-Life Balance with Solution-Focused Scaling

Anne Lutz2024-08-13T22:17:23+00:00August 11th, 2024|

If you're seeking a way to achieve better work-life balance, solution-focused scaling offers a gentle yet empowering approach to overcoming challenges like depression, anxiety, or burnout. It's aligning your professional responsibilities with your personal needs, carving out time for rest, nurturing relationships, and investing in self-care. By setting boundaries, making adjustments, and focusing on Read More >

Solution-Focused Self Care

Anne Lutz2024-08-12T20:42:32+00:00January 17th, 2024|

"The greatest thing in the world is to know how to belong to oneself." - Michel de Montaigne. Dedicating time to your self-care is not selfish; it is self-protective. It is a vital investment in your health and well-being. It enables you to better cope with life's challenges, maintain physical and mental health, and Read More >

What is the Evidence for Solution-Focused Brief Therapy in Schools?

Anne Lutz2024-08-12T20:42:58+00:00June 19th, 2023|

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) has made tremendous progress in the past ten years and is a practice that is based on evidence. SFBT has been applied in the community across schools, mental health clinics, and health care settings with a diverse population and age group (Kim et al., 2019). A meta-analysis of randomized controlled Read More >

Solution-Focused Self-Compassion

Anne Lutz2024-08-12T20:43:13+00:00May 3rd, 2023|

Self-compassion involves treating yourself with the same kindness, concern, and support you would show to a good friend. It is the desire to alleviate suffering within yourself with gentleness, care, and empathy. In Western culture, there is more emphasis on being kind to others rather than to ourselves. We often talk to ourselves with Read More >