英文原文
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT): Practical Steps Toward Change
When worry or stuckness takes up too much room, therapy that focuses on the past can feel heavy. Solution Focused Brief Therapy (often shortened to SFBT or SFT) shifts the conversation: what small, realistic next step would make a difference? It’s concise, goal-oriented, and built around clients’ strengths—helpful when clarity and forward motion are the priority.
What is Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) and How it Works?
• SFBT is a short-term, future-focused therapy that centers on goals, resources, and what’s already working—rather than a long search for causes.
• Typical SFBT work is brief: many studies report an average of about 4–6 sessions, though the range in research is wider (1–24 sessions). The aim is useful, measurable change in a short time.
• This therapy helps clients and therapists create a clear vision of a preferred future. From there, they find small, actionable steps forward, building on the client’s existing strengths and successes instead of focusing on their problems.
What are the Key Elements of Solution Focused Brief Therapy?
• Goal-setting (well-formed goals): clear, observable, and client-chosen outcomes.
• Miracle question: invites the client to imagine a day after a problem is solved, which clarifies what matters and helps set targets.
• Exception questions: explore times when the problem did not occur (or was less severe), revealing usable strategies already in the client’s life.
• Scaling questions: track progress by asking the client to rate where they are on a 0–10 scale and to identify next small steps to move the number.
• Language and stance: the therapist adopts a “not-knowing” curiosity and uses clients’ own words—this preserves client agency and keeps interventions culturally respectful.
What are the Benefits of SFBT?
• Efficiency: short courses of therapy can produce meaningful change, which can be useful for people looking for focused, practical help quickly. Group and brief formats sometimes show strong effects.
• Hope-centered and empowering: by focusing on solutions and existing strengths, clients often leave sessions feeling more capable and motivated.
• Versatility: SFBT is applied successfully in individual, family, couples, school, healthcare, and organizational settings.
• Evidence base: An umbrella review of existing systematic reviews and meta-analyses concluded there is high confidence that SFBT improves outcomes such as depression, overall mental health, and progress toward personal goals in adults; evidence is moderately confident for many other outcomes.
What is an Example of Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)?
Short clinical vignette (social anxiety):
A client reports dread about a work social.
Therapist asks, “If you woke up tomorrow and the problem was gone, what would you notice first?” (miracle question).
The client says, “I’d be able to stay 10 minutes longer and say hello to two colleagues.”
Therapist asks, “On a 0–10 scale, where are you now?”
Client: “3.”
Therapist: “What did you do once that made it a 3 and not a 1?” That exception points to a small, repeatable behavior (brief greetings) to practice before the next session. Scaling lets the client track progress and build confidence.
What is the Difference Between CBT and SFT?
• Primary focus: CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors through structured techniques and often homework; it directly targets cognitive distortions and skill practice. SFBT focuses on identifying solutions, exceptions, and small steps toward a preferred future—less emphasis on restructuring thoughts or deep analysis of underlying causes.
• Time and structure: CBT protocols frequently run longer (commonly 8–20+ sessions depending on the problem and protocol) and include skill rehearsal between sessions; SFBT tends to be shorter on average (often 4–6 sessions in studies) and centers on immediate, client-driven goals.
• When to choose which: CBT is robust for many diagnosable conditions (depression, PTSD, anxiety disorders) and for clients who benefit from skills training and cognitive restructuring; SFBT suits clients wanting rapid, practical change, goal-setting, or brief interventions in settings where time and resources are limited. Both can be complementary rather than mutually exclusive.
Final Thoughts
SFBT is not denial of difficulty; it’s a strategic redirection of attention toward what works and what’s next. For many people, that shift produces surprisingly fast and useful change—small steps that add up. If short, targeted work fits the situation, or if a client wants momentum and clarity quickly, SFBT is a practical option to consider. As with any therapy, fit matters—discuss goals and expectations with a licensed clinician to decide the best path forward.
中文翻译
焦点解决短期疗法(SFBT):迈向改变的实用步骤
当担忧或停滞占据太多空间时,专注于过去的治疗可能会让人感到沉重。焦点解决短期疗法(通常缩写为SFBT或SFT)转变了对话的方向:什么小而现实的下一步会带来改变?它简洁、目标导向,并围绕来访者的优势构建——当清晰度和前进动力是优先事项时,这很有帮助。
什么是焦点解决短期疗法(SFBT)及其工作原理?
• SFBT是一种短期、面向未来的疗法,以目标、资源和已经在起作用的事物为中心——而不是长时间寻找原因。
• 典型的SFBT工作是简短的:许多研究报告平均约4-6次会谈,尽管研究范围更广(1-24次会谈)。目标是在短时间内实现有用、可衡量的改变。
• 这种疗法帮助来访者和治疗师创建一个清晰的首选未来愿景。从那里,他们找到小而可行的前进步骤,建立在来访者现有优势和成功的基础上,而不是专注于他们的问题。
焦点解决短期疗法的关键要素是什么?
• 目标设定(良好形成的目标):清晰、可观察且由来访者选择的结果。
• 奇迹问题:邀请来访者想象问题解决后的一天,这澄清了什么重要并帮助设定目标。
• 例外问题:探索问题没有发生(或较轻)的时刻,揭示来访者生活中已有的可用策略。
• 量表问题:通过要求来访者在0-10量表上评估他们所处位置并确定下一步小步骤来跟踪进展。
• 语言和立场:治疗师采用“不知”的好奇心并使用来访者自己的语言——这保留了来访者的能动性并使干预在文化上保持尊重。
SFBT的好处是什么?
• 效率:短期治疗课程可以产生有意义的改变,这对于寻求快速、专注、实用帮助的人很有用。团体和简短形式有时显示出强烈效果。
• 以希望为中心并赋权:通过专注于解决方案和现有优势,来访者通常在会谈后感到更有能力和动力。
• 多功能性:SFBT成功应用于个人、家庭、夫妻、学校、医疗保健和组织环境。
• 证据基础:对现有系统评价和荟萃分析的总体回顾得出结论,有高度信心认为SFBT改善了成人抑郁、整体心理健康和个人目标进展等结果;对于许多其他结果,证据有中等信心。
什么是焦点解决短期疗法(SFBT)的示例?
简短临床小插曲(社交焦虑):
一位来访者报告对工作社交活动感到恐惧。
治疗师问:“如果你明天醒来问题消失了,你会首先注意到什么?”(奇迹问题)。
来访者说:“我能够多待10分钟并向两位同事问好。”
治疗师问:“在0-10量表上,你现在在哪里?”
来访者:“3。”
治疗师:“你曾经做了什么让它成为3而不是1?”那个例外指向了一个小而可重复的行为(简短问候),可以在下次会谈前练习。量表让来访者跟踪进展并建立信心。
CBT和SFT有什么区别?
• 主要焦点:CBT(认知行为疗法)专注于通过结构化技术和通常的家庭作业识别和改变无益的思维模式和行为;它直接针对认知扭曲和技能练习。SFBT专注于识别解决方案、例外和迈向首选未来的小步骤——较少强调重构思想或深入分析潜在原因。
• 时间和结构:CBT协议通常运行时间更长(通常8-20+次会谈,取决于问题和协议)并在会谈之间包括技能排练;SFBT平均往往更短(研究中通常4-6次会谈)并以即时、来访者驱动的目标为中心。
• 何时选择哪种:CBT对于许多可诊断的病症(抑郁、PTSD、焦虑障碍)和受益于技能训练和认知重构的来访者很稳健;SFBT适合想要快速、实用改变、目标设定或在时间和资源有限的环境中进行简短干预的来访者。两者可以是互补的而不是相互排斥的。
最后思考
SFBT不是否认困难;它是一种将注意力战略性地重新导向什么有效和下一步是什么。对于许多人来说,这种转变产生了令人惊讶的快速和有用的改变——小步骤累积起来。如果短期、有针对性的工作适合情况,或者如果来访者想要快速获得动力和清晰度,SFBT是一个实用的选择。与任何疗法一样,适合性很重要——与持牌临床医生讨论目标和期望以决定最佳前进路径。
文章概要
本文介绍了焦点解决短期疗法(SFBT)的核心概念和实践方法。SFBT是一种短期、目标导向的心理疗法,强调未来解决方案而非过去问题,通过奇迹问题、例外问题、量表问题等关键技术帮助来访者设定清晰目标并采取小步骤行动。文章详细阐述了SFBT的工作原理、关键要素、实际效益,并通过社交焦虑案例展示了其应用过程。同时,文章比较了SFBT与认知行为疗法(CBT)的差异,指出SFBT适合寻求快速、实用改变的场景。结合关键词“目标导向的同伴支持”,文章体现了SFBT在团体或同伴环境中通过目标设定和优势聚焦促进积极改变的潜力。
高德明老师的评价
用12岁初中生可以听懂的语音来重复翻译的内容
想象一下,如果你觉得有些事情让你很烦恼,比如害怕和同学说话,焦点解决短期疗法就像是一个超级好用的工具箱。它不会一直问你“为什么害怕”,而是会问你“如果明天醒来不害怕了,你会做什么?”然后帮你找到一些小事情,比如先对一个人微笑,慢慢练习,让你变得越来越勇敢。它很短很快,就像玩游戏一样,一步步升级!
焦点解决心理学理论评价
从焦点解决心理学的视角来看,这篇文章精彩地展现了SFBT的核心精神——将注意力从问题转向解决方案,从过去转向未来。文章强调了目标设定、例外寻找和量表评估等关键技术,这些正是SFBT实践中赋能来访者的重要工具。特别值得赞美的是,文章突出了“目标导向”这一核心理念,这与SFBT强调的清晰、可观察目标完全一致。文章还展示了SFBT的实用性和效率,体现了“小步骤带来大改变”的哲学,这正是焦点解决心理学所倡导的积极变革路径。
在实践上可以应用的领域和可以解决人们的十个问题
1. 在学校环境中,帮助学生在学习困难时设定小目标,提升自信心和动力。
2. 在职场中,协助员工应对工作压力,通过目标分解提高工作效率。
3. 在家庭关系中,促进家庭成员之间的沟通,通过例外问题发现和谐时刻。
4. 在社区支持团体中,运用同伴支持模式,共同设定健康生活目标。
5. 在医疗保健中,帮助慢性病患者管理症状,通过量表跟踪进展。
6. 在青少年成长中,引导他们应对社交焦虑,像案例中那样练习小步骤。
7. 在组织发展中,提升团队协作,聚焦解决方案而非问题抱怨。
8. 在个人发展中,协助个体实现生活平衡,通过奇迹问题明确理想状态。
9. 在教育培训中,应用于教师培训,帮助教育者以优势视角支持学生。
10. 在心理健康普及中,作为简短干预工具,让更多人快速获得心理支持。