At Central Ozarks Medical Center we know that when it comes to behavioral and mental health therapy, one approach does not work the same for every client. That is why we offer multiple types of therapy at our clinics in Central Missouri. One type of therapy we offer is Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT). SFBT is unique or different from other talking therapies because it focuses on the future and solutions, rather than the past and problem-solving. It is goal-oriented and patient-driven and usually takes only a few sessions. It emphasizes the patient’s strengths and resources rather than the problem and can be effective for a number of emotional and mental health problems including substance abuse/addiction, depression and anxiety, relationship problems, work-related and personal stress, and self-esteem. If you would like to see if SFBT might be helpful to you or someone you know in overcoming a challenge or reaching a goal, keep reading this blog to learn more about how it works!
Goal Setting
SFBT works best when there is a specific challenge to overcome or a certain goal one is trying to reach. Instead of examining the problem and how the person feels about it or interprets it, SFBT on the present resources and the patient’s vision for the future and how to move in that direction. One technique used is called the Miracle Question. First, the person considers what they desire their life to be like, what do they want to be different. Then, they imagine a miracle has happened and they wake up one morning and the problem is gone. They visualize what is different and think about how they know the problem is gone. What does it look and feel like?
Positivity
The therapist will ask the person to think about times when the problem was not there or was not having such a large impact on his/her life. They will then help them notice all the positive strengths they can observe in themself with comments or questions such as “Wow, with all you have been through, what do you think has enabled you to cope and keep trying?” or “That is amazing for you to be so strong!” The tone will be very positive and complimentary and will help the person realize some of the things that they have done that worked and empower them with ways to reach their goal.
Scales
The therapist will likely ask the person to rate things on a scale of 1-10 to get a better understanding of the desired goal. They may ask the person to rate how achievable they think the goal is, or how much progress they feel they have made on it, or how much they think the problem is contributing to their drinking or marital conflicts, etc. The use of scales also helps determine when the person feels the goal has been reached and is done with counseling.
The world of mental and behavioral health care really has come a long way. There are many more options than most people realize. That is why we wanted to tell you about SFBT and how it works. It is just one of the therapies available from our clinics in the Lake of the Ozarks area. Our behavioral and mental health care providers in Osage Beach, Richland, and Camdenton believe that your mental health matters, and they are dedicated to being a part of your overall health care team. At Central Ozarks Medical Center, it is not just what we do, but how we do it that matters. For more news about mental and behavioral health in Mid-Missouri, be sure to follow us on social media using the links below!
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