What is a key principle of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy?

• A. Analyzing past problems in depth
• B. Focusing on present strengths and creating small steps toward preferred futures
• C. Rely on therapist expertise to define goals
• D. Focusing on family history of issues

Answer: (B)

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy emphasizes building solutions in the present and toward the future by leveraging strengths and small, doable steps toward a preferred outcome. This approach is not about digging into past problems or their causes; it centers on what the client can do now and in the near future to move toward their goals. Therapists help clients identify times when the problem wasn’t as bad or wasn’t present (exceptions) and use those moments to guide practical steps. Goals are driven by the client’s own aims, with the therapist acting as a collaborative guide rather than the sole expert shaping the plan. This makes focusing on present strengths and creating small steps toward a desired future the core feature of the method.