How does Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) approach youth problems?

• A. Focus on deficits and past problems; long-term.
• B. Focus on strengths, future goals, and practical solutions; brief and goal-directed.
• C. Extensive analysis of childhood trauma.
• D. Psychoanalytic, depth-oriented exploration.

Answer: (B)

SFBT for youth emphasizes using strengths, looking to the future, and outlining practical steps to reach short-term goals in a time-limited, collaborative process. It focuses on what the young person can do now to move toward a preferred future, rather than dwelling on problems or past events. The approach is brief and goal-directed, guiding conversations toward concrete solutions, small changes, and measurable progress, often using questions that scale progress or highlight exceptions when the issue wasn’t a problem. This helps youth feel capable and engaged, with clear actions they can take, making change feel achievable in a relatively short period. The other perspectives described would center on deficits, extensive trauma analysis, or deep psychoanalytic exploration, which are not the hallmarks of SFBT.