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Solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) has been criticized for neglecting the emotional processes of clients; however, a review of the literature contradicts this argument and indicates that the use of positive emotions in the change process of SFBT has been present since its early development. This article reviews how emotional processes have been conceptualized within SFBT and shows how SFBT scholars and therapists have used positive emotions in building solutions with clients. This article also reviews Fredrickson's broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions and shows how the research within positive psychology provides additional empirical evidence for the significance of positive emotions in the change processes of psychotherapy in general and SFBT in particular. Finally, this article illustrates specific ways that SFBT elicits positive emotions, further showing how solution-building conversations may increase positive emotions in clients.
Key words: broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions; positive emotions; solution-focused brief therapy
Solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) is a strengths-based, future-focused therapeutic model that was developed under the leadership of two social workers, Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg, and a team of interdisciplinary colleagues at the Brief Family Therapy Center in Milwaukee (de Shazer, 1985; de Shazer et al., 1986). The SFBT approach to helping clients provides a set of therapeutic techniques for building client competencies and helps clients discover workable solutions to their mental health problems (Berg & De Jong, 2008). An emphasis of SFBT is on the process of developing a future solution rather than the past manifestation of the problem, with the focus being on identifying past successes and exceptions to the problem, as well as identifying new and novel ways of responding in future efforts to solve problems (Franklin et al., 2001).
Orchestrating a positive, solution-focused conversation is unique to SFBT and is sometimes referred to as solution talk. The aims are to create a context for change where hope, competence, and positive expectancies for change increase and a client can co-construct with the therapist workable solutions to his or her problems. Goals are also believed to be important to the change process and are created by the therapist and client working together. Thus, it is critical that therapists foster an open and collaborative working relationship with clients (Dielman & Franklin, 1998; Lethem, 2002; Lipchik, 2011).