What is Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT)?

From the Guidelines

Solution Focused Therapy is a highly effective approach for managing cancer-related fatigue, as evidenced by a recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology in 2024 1. This therapy is a brief, active form of psychotherapy that focuses on the patient's experience and strengths, rather than the problem itself. The key aspects of Solution Focused Therapy include:

• Focusing on the patient's goals and desires
• Identifying and building on existing strengths and resources
• Creating positive change through a small number of sessions (often 3-6 months)
• Using specific techniques such as the miracle question, scaling questions, and exception-finding questions to help clients envision their preferred future and recognize times when their problems are less severe or absent. As noted in the study, Solution Focused Therapy resulted in significantly lower fatigue than usual health education about cancer-related fatigue (P < .005) 1. The approach is based on the belief that clients already possess the skills and capabilities needed to solve their problems, and the therapist's role is to help uncover these resources. Some of the benefits of Solution Focused Therapy include:
• Pragmatic and future-oriented approach
• Effective for various issues including depression, anxiety, relationship problems, and substance abuse
• Brief and time-efficient, often requiring only a few sessions
• Focus on client strengths and resources, rather than deficits or problems.

From the Research

Definition and Overview of Solution Focused Therapy

• Solution Focused Therapy (SFT) is a goal-oriented approach that focuses on the strengths and resources of clients to achieve positive results on various psychosocial outcomes 2.
• It is assumed to achieve positive results by emphasizing the client's strengths and abilities, rather than their weaknesses or deficits 2.

Key Components and Techniques

• The co-construction process within SFT is significant, and specific types of SFT techniques, such as strength-oriented techniques, have empirical support 3.
• The co-construction of meaning is also an important aspect of SFT, and it has been found to be effective in achieving positive outcomes 3.

Effectiveness and Applications

• SFT has been found to be effective in various settings, including medical settings, and can be applied to a variety of clients and psychosocial problems 2, 4.
• It has been found to be particularly effective for couples and marital functioning, and can be used in group therapy or individual therapy settings 2.
• SFT has also been found to be effective in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety, and can be used in conjunction with other therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) 5, 6.

Research Findings and Limitations

• Studies have found that SFT can be an effective intervention for psychosocial outcomes, and a promising approach for behavioral outcomes in medical settings 4.
• However, more research is needed to fully understand the effectiveness of SFT, and to identify the specific components and techniques that are most effective 3, 2.
• Limitations of current research include the need for larger sample sizes, experimental designs, and more rigorous methodology to study the SFT process in relation to outcomes 3, 2.