Solution-Focused Brief Therapy: An Introduction to Clinical Practice

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: February 2025

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

1. Identify key historical milestones in the development of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT).
2. Differentiate SFBT from traditional mental health treatment models by analyzing key distinctions in approach and philosophy.
3. Apply core tenets of SFBT by selecting appropriate responses in therapist-client interactions.
4. Recognize the overall clinical process of SFBT, including therapist roles, solution development, and assessment differences.
5. Select appropriate SFBT interventions based on case examples, applying techniques in a structured format.
6. Evaluate the evidence base for SFBT by selecting research-supported conclusions about its effectiveness.

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

Course Outline

1. Welcome and Orientation
2. Read SFBT: An Introduction to Clinical Practice
3. Watch the Video lecture with clinical demonstrations
4. Course exam and evaluation

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.

5  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, occupational therapists, and marriage & family therapists.

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 5 Clinical continuing education credits.

The Institute for Solution-Focused Therapy, LLC, is an AOTA-approved provider of professional development. Course approval ID #0000012464. This distance learning–independent course is offered at 0.5 AOTA CEUs (5 contact hours).
This introductory-level activity is designed to enhance foundational knowledge and occupational therapy service delivery. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.

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.