Brief Therapy Institute of Sydney

16/11/2025

Australasian Solution Focused Conference the last three days in Ōtepoti (Dunedin). Days 1 and 3 were at the University of Otago, Day 2 was at Raiteuru Marae, the oldest urban marae in Aotearoa (a marae is a Maori meeting place). Great to see a number of Solution Focused friends and colleagues and to be stimulated to THINK. Two stand-outs for me were thinking about the importance of CURIOSITY (from Lou White Pawson's keynote on Day 1) and the importance of HOPE, based on a fundamental belief in the people with whom we work (from Emma Burns' keynote on SF Su***de Prevention on Day 1). I was also struck by the creativity of Matt Cameron's presentation about his work with AI. He will ask a young child "how did you do that?" and have the child list 10 or 20 strengths or abilities that helped them be successful. Then he asks ChatGPT to write a poem (in a particular style) or to draw a poster, about the young person and those abilities. The young person leaves the session with a poem or a poster specifically about them. Thanks to Andrea Lemm and the rest of the organising committee. As I lurch towards semi-retirement, I am gratified to see that Solution Focused practice has momentum and vitality.

11/09/2024

My new book, "Solution-Focused practice: How do you do that?" - I have just heard that it will be back from the printer next week. As soon as it is here, the pre-publication offer (20% discount) will end.

A comprehensive text on the Solution Focused approach to working with people — Solution Focused Brief Therapy, but also coaching, consulting, working with organisations and schools.

23/08/2024

Michael's new book - “Solution-Focused Practice: How do you do that?” - has gone to the printer.
The book is my version of an “up-to-date” text on Solution-Focused work, aiming both to be true to how the approach developed and also to encapsulate the most recent variations and developments. Chris Iveson, from BRIEF in London, kindly wrote the Foreword for the book.
The book web page is https://www.brieftherapysydney.com.au/solution-focused-practice-book and this page has a pre-publication special offer on it. The pre-publication offer (20% discount) will end as soon as the book comes back from the printer. I should have copies in six or seven weeks.
Please have a look at the web page.

04/11/2023

Back from Port Macquarie a week or so ago and left at dawn the next day for Perth. Solution Focused training with a group of VERY motivated West Australians.

04/11/2023

Solution Focused training in Newcastle. Thank you to 26 very energetic participants.

04/11/2023

Back from Port Macquarie, left at dawn the next day to fly to Perth. Intro Solution Focused training with 20 very keen people in Perth.

04/11/2023

Training last week (and the week before) in Port Macquarie. Two-year project with Mid North Coast Local Health District Alcohol and Other Drugs Service for ongoing Solution Focused training and supervision. VERY exciting. Training was on the banks of the Hastings River.

18/03/2022

Two days Solution Focused Brief Therapy training for Guidance Officers in Cairns. Wonderful group of participants. Far North Region of Education Queensland continues to be the centre of Solution Focused work in schools in Australia. Privileged to be part of this!

09/01/2022

My article about how the idea that “expressing remorse” is somehow important or even curative is NOT supported by research AND how a Solution Focused approach offers a more helpful way to think about recidivism and changed behaviour. Reposted and updated.

Michael reviews the evidence for the relationship between "showing remorse" and behaviour change — and finds it wanting. He goes on to propose that Solution Focused Brief Therapy's emphasis on making clients accountable for already changed behaviour is a more useful emphasis.

09/12/2020

Finished three days of training in Auckland, NZ (but without leaving Sydney). WONDERFUL group of 45 people, willing to jump in, to experiment with ideas and to ask some questions that stretched me. Thank you to all of you for a great three days. Tomorrow, I'm off to Singapore!

06/12/2020

I'm teaching three days this week in Auckland and then three days in Singapore ... six days teaching in a row is the most for over a year ... and I'll earn ZERO frequent flyer miles and have ZERO nights in a hotel.

17/09/2020

Free webinar NEXT Wednesday evening, with Emma Burns, Andrew Turnell and Ian Johnsen. It's free, but you need to register.https://www.brieftherapysydney.com.au/event/sf-family-violence