Solution-Building, the Foundation of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy: A Qualitative Delphi Study

ABSTRACT

The term solution-building has been used in numerous solution-focused brief therapy books and peer reviewed journal articles with differing definitions and descriptions for what this term means. The current qualitative Delphi study sought to clearly identify what solution-building is and what it means to the practice of solution-focused brief therapy. The results were gathered by conducting 3 rounds of qualitative surveys with 42 solution-focused brief therapy experts from around the globe. The results of these surveys, including a definition of solution-building, a description of the clinician’s role and the client’s role in this process, and a description of how solution-building and problem-solving differ are outlined. The clinical and training implications of these results are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Delphi study
• problem-solving
• solution-building
• solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT)