Keiko Yoneyama-Sims, MS. LMFT.
Postpartum Counseling in Denver
Moving to a New Website on September 1st, 2025
www.small-steps-consulting.com
Solution Focused Approach
What is the benefits of Solution Focused Approach?
Solution Focused Approach (SFA) is respectful and outcome-based therapy. The clients are the equal partner in the therapy sessions and are the expert of their life. The work in the therapy sessions is tailored to your needs, your situation, and desired result of therapy. SFA works with many varieties of problems, life issues, and mental health diagnoses, proven by scientific research. SFA tends to be a short-term treatment. Research says that the majority of SFA sessions took 6 sessions and under to achieve the outcome clients wanted. SFA philosophy is not to have one more session than the client needs.
How did Solution Focused Approach created?
Solution Focused Approach was originally established as a new way of counseling by Steve de Shazer, Insoo Kim-Berg, and other colleagues in the 1980s. They observed numerous therapy sessions and extracted what worked for clients to make changes and improvements. Its philosophy is influenced by Strategic Family therapy, Ericksonian therapy, Adlarian psychology, Wittgensteinian philosophy, and Buddhist philosophy.
What are Solution Focused Approach Core Beliefs?
If it isn't broken, don't fix it.
If it works, do more of it.
If it's not working, do something different.
Small steps can lead to big changes.
The solution is not necessarily directly related to the problem.
The language for solution development is different from that needed to describe a problem.
No problems happen all the time; there are always exceptions that can be utilized.
The future is both created and negotiable. (De Shazer et al, 2007)
What to expect during the first meeting?
During the first meeting, we will go over the information packet and disclosure statement first to make sure you understand the rules and limitations for therapy sessions and for Marriage and Family Therapists. We will set aside time to get to know each other. Then, we will explore your goal, and what you want from the meetings. Once the goal is decided and clear for you and me, we will discuss how to get to what you want. In this process, I will be asking a range of questions to help us figure out what you want and how to go about it in a respectful, non-judgmental, and supportive manner. At the end of the session, I will provide feedback that includes, but is not limited to, highlighting important topics we discussed that day, and past success or current resources that you mentioned in the session. The session usually lasts about 50 - 60 minutes.
How do I know if it is for me?
During the first session, you will get a feel of the therapy process, therapist, and office environment. These are very important aspects of your progress and changes. It is very important to listen to your feel for the therapy session and to find a therapist you are comfortable working with. It is important that you feel respected and supported during the session. At the end of the therapy session, you will make the decision of coming back to therapy for the next session or you do not need to come back. I will not assume either you should come back or you should end the session. It is truly up to your needs.
How many times or how long do I need to attend therapy sessions?
In the Solution Focused Brief Approach, there is no preset frequency or number of sessions that you need to follow. When you need more sessions to achieve your goal, we will have more sessions. When you get to the point where you are satisfied with the goal achieved so far, then that will indicate the end of therapy. de Shazer wrote about it in a very simple manner "It (therapy) should be no longer and not one bit shorter than necessary" (Connie & Metchalf, 2009).