When it comes to therapy, many people assume that healing requires diving deep into the past to process long-standing struggles. While understanding past experiences can be valuable, some individuals prefer a more action-driven approach that focuses on solutions rather than problems. That’s where Brief Solutions-Focused Therapy (BSFT) comes in.
At Anchor Within Counseling, we offer Solutions-Focused Therapy to help individuals identify strengths, set realistic goals, and take actionable steps toward positive change. Whether you're navigating life transitions, dealing with workplace stress, or facing systemic barriers, this approach provides a clear, structured path forward that builds confidence and resilience.
Let’s explore how Solutions-Focused Therapy works, why it’s an effective and empowering approach, and how it benefits Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) clients.
What is Solutions-Focused Therapy?
Brief Solutions-Focused Therapy (BSFT) is a goal-oriented, time-efficient therapeutic approach that focuses on identifying and amplifying your strengths and resources to create change. Unlike traditional therapy that analyzes past traumas, BSFT is present- and future-focused, helping clients:
Clarify their goals and vision for the future
Identify what’s already working in their lives
Develop practical and achievable solutions
Build confidence by celebrating small wins
BSFT is particularly effective for individuals who:
Want to see quick, tangible results from therapy
Prefer a structured and action-oriented approach
Need short-term support to overcome immediate challenges
Are focused on solutions rather than extensive problem analysis
At Anchor Within Counseling, our therapists collaborate with you to develop an individualized plan that fits your unique needs, values, and strengths.
How Solutions-Focused Therapy Works
Solutions-Focused Therapy is built on the belief that you already have the skills and abilities needed for change—therapy just helps you tap into them more effectively. Here’s how it works:
1. Identifying Strengths and Resources
Instead of focusing on what’s wrong, BSFT helps you recognize what’s already working in your life and how you can use those strengths to move forward.
What challenges have you overcome in the past?
What skills or resources have helped you succeed before?
Who in your support system encourages and empowers you?
2. Defining Clear and Achievable Goals
Solutions-Focused Therapy is goal-oriented, meaning we work together to define realistic, meaningful, and attainable objectives.
What does success look like for you?
What small steps can you take to start making progress?
How will you know you’re moving in the right direction?
Your therapist will help break big goals into smaller, manageable steps, making it easier to track progress and stay motivated.
3. Focusing on Solutions, Not Problems
Rather than spending sessions analyzing the causes of problems, BSFT shifts the conversation to practical solutions.
Instead of “Why am I struggling?” we ask, “What is already working, and how can we do more of that?”
Instead of dwelling on obstacles, we explore ways to work around them.
Instead of getting stuck in the past, we help you create a clear vision for the future.
4. Encouraging a Positive Mindset and Small Wins
Even small successes can build confidence and momentum. BSFT emphasizes:
Recognizing achievements—no matter how small.
Celebrating progress rather than perfection.
Focusing on what you CAN control, rather than what you can’t.
By reinforcing positivity and self-efficacy, BSFT helps clients build the motivation and confidence to continue making changes long after therapy ends.
Why Solutions-Focused Therapy is Powerful for BIPOC Clients
For BIPOC clients therapy must be culturally competent and empowering. Many traditional therapy models center on struggles and deficits, which can sometimes feel discouraging or fail to acknowledge the resilience and strength within BIPOC communities.
At Anchor Within Counseling, we use Solutions-Focused Therapy to highlight the strengths, cultural wisdom, and resilience of BIPOC clients while also addressing the systemic barriers they face.
1. Recognizing and Building on Cultural Strengths
BIPOC communities have a long history of strength, adaptability, and resourcefulness. Instead of framing struggles as deficits, BSFT:
Recognizes cultural identity as a source of strength.
Honors ancestral and community resilience as a foundation for growth.
Encourages clients to use cultural traditions, values, and spirituality as tools for empowerment.
2. Navigating Systemic Barriers with Practical Solutions
BIPOC clients often face unique challenges, such as:
Workplace discrimination
Racial trauma
Economic disparities
Barriers to healthcare access
BSFT acknowledges these real-life challenges while helping clients develop strategies to navigate and overcome systemic obstacles in ways that are realistic, empowering, and culturally relevant.
3. Promoting Confidence and Self-Empowerment
Many BIPOC individuals internalize messages of self-doubt due to societal discrimination. Solutions-Focused Therapy helps counteract these messages by:
Encouraging self-advocacy and boundary-setting.
Celebrating personal achievements and resilience.
Fostering a strengths-based identity rather than a deficit-based narrative.
Instead of focusing on what’s wrong, we focus on what’s possible—empowering BIPOC clients to define success on their own terms.
Is Solutions-Focused Therapy Right for You?
Solutions-Focused Therapy might be the right fit if:
You prefer a structured, action-driven approach to therapy.
You want to focus on solutions rather than analyzing the past.
You’re looking for quick, tangible results in a short time frame.
You want to boost confidence and self-efficacy in achieving personal goals.
It may not be the best fit if:
You need deep, long-term trauma processing before focusing on solutions.
You prefer a more exploratory, insight-based approach rather than goal-setting.
If you're unsure, our therapists at Anchor Within Counseling can help determine whether BSFT is the right approach for you.
Creating Meaningful Change with a Solutions-Oriented Mindset
At Anchor Within Counseling, we believe that you already have the tools to create positive change—sometimes, you just need guidance and structure to bring them to the surface. Solutions-Focused Therapy helps you move from feeling stuck to making real progress by emphasizing strengths, resilience, and forward momentum.
Your past does not define your future.
You are capable of change, growth, and success.
Therapy should empower you—not overwhelm you.
If you're ready to take control of your journey and start making meaningful progress, we're here to help you take the next step. Reach out to us to request services today.