Solution-Focused Brief Therapy: An Introduction to Clinical Practice

See this course in Español (Spanish).

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) is a short-term goal-focused evidence-based therapeutic approach that helps clients change by constructing solutions rather than dwelling on problems. In the most basic sense, SFBT is a hope-friendly, positive emotion eliciting, future-oriented vehicle for formulating, motivating, achieving, and sustaining desired behavioral change. Because SFBT is based on resiliency and clients’ own previous solutions and exceptions to their own problems, it can be applied to virtually any problem, including family and couples, domestic violence, trauma, sexual abuse, substance abuse, and childhood and adolescent disorders. The Institute for Solution-Focused Therapy has prepared an introductory course that reviews the state-of-the-art in SFBT in clinical practice, the origin and development of SFBT, SFBT evidence and research, SFBT major tenets, and key components of SFBT in clinical practice.

Last Updated: June 2022

Target Audience: Social workers, psychologists, mental health counselors, educators, and medical professionals;  appropriate for all levels of knowledge.

• Recall the historical roots and early history of SFBT
• Discuss SFBT as a significant paradigm shift in the field of mental health treatment
• Describe the major tenets underlying SFBT
• Describe the overall clinical process of SFBT is, including the role of the therapist; the solution-development process; and how solution-focused assessment differs from traditional assessment
• Recognize the major and specific SFBT interventions
• Recall how safety issues are addressed in SFBT
• Compare how SFBT differs from other therapy approaches
• Summarize the evidence-base for SFBT

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.

1. Course Introduction
2. Written Material (PDF)
3. Video Lecture
4. Exam Instructions and Exam Preview
5. Course Exam
6. Course Evaluation
7. Certificate of Completion

There will be a 40-item multiple-choice test which is designed to assess your understanding and ability to apply the course material. You may take the exam multiple times until you pass the exam.

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.

7 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.

Students should check with their professional licensing boards to make sure that a specific course will be accepted toward their continuing education requirements.

To receive continuing education hours, the student must:

• Enroll in the course
• Read the learning content
• Watch the entire online lecture
• Complete the course exam, and receive a passing grade of 80%
• Complete the course evaluation

Upon successful completion of the course, the student may download and print his or her Certificate of Completion.

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

Our complete list of policies can be viewed here.