Solution-Focused Practice in Anxiety and Depression
This book-based, self-paced continuing education course is based on The Solution-Focused Mindset for Anxiety and Depression: A Workbook to Manage Emotions, Harness Your Strengths, and Feel Better Now by Dr. Anne Bodmer Lutz.
Grounded in the evidence-based principles of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), a person-centered, strengths-based, and goal-oriented approach, this course guides transdisciplinary professionals through seven practical chapters, each offering hopeful, actionable tools for addressing anxiety, depression, and related challenges.
The course materials can also be applied in group settings across education, mental health, healthcare, and community programs to spark connection, amplify agency, and cultivate vicarious resilience as participants witness and build on one another’s strengths and progress.
Whether you are new to learning solution-focused language or seeking to deepen your skills, this course provides a structured, chapter-by-chapter learning experience that supports your work with individuals and groups while strengthening your solution-focused practice.
Note: The required workbook must be purchased separately. Discount instructions are provided below.
Visit newharbinger.com and use the code FOCUS2026 at checkout for a discounted price.
Bonus: The course also includes free downloadable tools to support implementation and reflection.
- Chapter 1: An Introduction to the Solution-Focused Mindset
Explore how cultivating hope, agency, and small steps toward change can promote healing, even in the midst of emotional pain. - Chapter 2: Empower Your Story with Positive Language
Learn how to use positive solution-building language that reshapes narrative, activates agency, and builds resilience. - Chapter 3: Become an Amygdala Whisperer
Understand brain-based responses to emotional overwhelm and apply SFBT strategies to calm and regulate intense emotions. - Chapter 4: Recognizing Valuable Relationships
Use VIP Mapping to help clients identify and strengthen their support networks. - Chapter 5: Manifesting Your Best Hopes
Guide clients to articulate goals and create a preferred future using the SFBT practice of best hopes questions. - Chapter 6: Scaling for Success
Apply solution-focused scaling questions to activate agency, assess progress, increase awareness, and develop small, meaningful steps. - Chapter 7: Building and Sustaining Your Path to Success
Integrate core principles using a structured four-quadrant framework to support long-term growth and success.
Required Workbook for This Course
To participate, you must purchase the workbook separately:
Title: The Solution-Focused Mindset for Anxiety and Depression: A Workbook to Manage Emotions, Harness Your Strengths, and Feel Better Now
Author: Dr. Anne Bodmer Lutz
Foreword: Dr. Cynthia Franklin
Publisher: New Harbinger Publications
Print ISBN: 9781648484742 | eBook ISBN: 9781648484766
Print Price: $25.95 | eBook Price: $20.75 → $14.99 with discount
Length: 200 pages (8” x 10”)
Publication Date: June 1, 2025
Discount Instructions:
Visit newharbinger.com and use the code FOCUS2026 at checkout for a discounted price.
Last Updated: July 2026
Delivery Method
This is an asynchronous, noninteractive, self-paced online course consisting of required written course materials, a course examination, and a course evaluation.
Target Audience: Social workers, psychologists, counselors, marriage and family therapists, educators, physicians, nurses, advanced practice providers, and other health, behavioral health, and human service professionals.
Content Level: Beginner
Prerequisites: No prior training in Solution-Focused Brief Therapy is required.
Registration deadline: There is no registration deadline. Enrollment is available on a rolling basis, and participants may begin the course immediately after registration.
System Requirements: Participants need a reliable internet connection, a current web browser, and a computer, tablet, or compatible mobile device to access the online course, complete the course examination and evaluation, and download the Certificate of Completion. Participants must also have access to the required course book, either in print or electronic format.
Participant support and instructor communication: Participants may contact info@solutionfocused.net with questions regarding course content, registration, technical support, or certificates of completion. Questions are reviewed by the instructor or knowledgeable course staff, and responses are typically provided within 24 hours.
Registration: Register and pay online by selecting “Purchase Course” above. Access instructions are emailed immediately after successful registration.
Financial Disclosure and Commercial Support:
The instructor is the author of The Solution-Focused Mindset for Anxiety and Depression (New Harbinger Publications, 2024) and receives royalties from book sales. The book is used as one of the educational resources for this course. No other relevant financial relationships or commercial support were involved in the development or delivery of this continuing education activity.
Learning Objectives
By course end, participants will be able to:
- Describe the foundational principles of the Solution-Focused Mindset and explain how cultivating agency and small steps can support hope and forward movement.
- Identify how language shapes meaning and recognize the use of positive, strengths-based phrasing to support behavioral change.
- Explain the concept of “amygdala whispering” and apply simple Solution-Focused strategies to manage intense emotions such as fear, anger, and anxiety.
- Identify key sources of personal and social support and categorize them using the VIP Mapping technique to address loneliness, clarify goals, and strengthen resilience.
- Demonstrate how to use “best hopes” questions to help clarify personal goals, values, and visions of a preferred future.
- Recognize how scaling questions can be used to activate agency, monitor progress, and determine next steps for a practical, individualized plan moving forward.
- Summarize the four-quadrant solution-focused framework for sustaining change and organize the core solution-focused tools into practical self-care plans for ongoing sustainable use.
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 required components have been successfully completed.
- Course Introduction
- Required Course Reading
- Course Examination
- Course Evaluation
- Certificate of Completion
Course Outline and Estimated Completion Time
Course Introduction — 15 minutes
Required Course Reading — 4 hours
Course Examination (35 multiple-choice questions) — 30 minutes
Course Evaluation — 15 minutes
Total instructional and assessment time — 5 hours
Because this course is self-paced, participants may take breaks as needed. Break time is not included in the 5 CE credit hours.
Course Assessment
There will be a 35-item multiple-choice examination designed to assess your understanding and ability to apply the course material. A minimum score of 80% is required to pass. Participants may retake the examination as needed until a passing score is achieved.
Certificate of Completion
Participants who complete all required course content, achieve a passing score of 80% or higher on the course examination, and complete the course evaluation may immediately download, save, and print their Certificate of Completion.
Continuing Education Credit Information
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 6 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 – 9/22/2029. Social workers completing this course receive 6 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 6 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.
Policy Information
Once enrolled, you may begin your course at any time.
Cancellation Policy
Because this is an asynchronous, self-paced online course, participants may begin the course immediately upon successful registration and payment.
Participants may discontinue the course at any time. Refund requests are subject to the Institute’s Refund Policy. The Institute for Solution-Focused Therapy reserves the right to cancel, discontinue, postpone, or modify a course due to unforeseen circumstances. If this occurs, participants will be notified promptly and may be offered continued access, an equivalent course, an extension of access, or an appropriate refund or credit, as determined by the circumstances.
For complete information regarding enrollment and cancellation, please review our Policies, Terms, and Statements, including:
Instructors and Authors