The Hope-Filled Solution Focused Approach. Dorothea Read

When people come to therapy, they’re often carrying a lot. Worry, uncertainty, exhaustion, self-doubt, sometimes all at once. One of the things I was taught by my SF teachers at Brief.org and Brief International and other mentors along the way, and I value most about a Solution-Focused approach is that it creates space for hope, even when things feel difficult. Not unrealistic positivity, just the gentle idea that something could be different, and that it’s okay to explore that together.

Starting with compassion and respectful curiosity

In Solution-Focused therapy, the conversation begins with you and rather than making assumptions about what the problem is, I am curious about what feels important for you to bring into the therapy room. What would be helpful to talk about today? What do you want support with right now?

This approach is rooted in respect, the solution focused way is one that respects that you are the expert on your own life, and therapy works best when it focuses on what you want, at your pace. Many people find it refreshing to be met with respectful curiosity rather than judgement, and compassion rather than analysis.

Why we talk about strengths, skills, and resources

It can feel strange to be asked about strengths when life feels hard. People may say “If I felt strong, I wouldn’t need therapy.” That’s completely understandable.

Solution-Focused questions about strengths, skills, and resources aren’t about ignoring difficulties, they're actually about widening the picture. Even during challenging times, people are usually doing more than they realise, coping, adapting, getting through days that once felt impossible.

By noticing what has helped, even a little, we can begin to build on what already works. If something makes life slightly easier or calmer, it often makes sense to do more of it.

Exploring your preferred future

Another key part of Solution-Focused work is talking about a preferred future.

This isn’t about setting pressure-filled goals or imagining a perfect life. It’s about gently exploring what better might look like for you. What would be different if things improved, even a little? What would you notice about yourself, your thoughts, or your day?

These conversations help shift attention away from what feels stuck and towards what feels possible. When people can picture small, realistic changes, hope often starts to feel more reachable.

A hope-filled conversation

At its heart, Solution-Focused therapy is about having conversations that allow change to emerge naturally. Pain and difficulty are taken seriously, but they’re held with kindness rather than judgement.

People are not broken. They are responding to their circumstances in the best way they can at the time.

A hope-filled conversation is one where compassion comes first, curiosity replaces blame, strengths are noticed, not forced and the future feels a little less closed off

Therapy doesn’t have to be about endlessly revisiting what’s gone wrong. Sometimes, it’s about discovering what could go right, one small, hopeful step at a time.