Denver Center for Solution-Focused Brief Therapy

10/03/2025

“Let us develop respect for all living things . Let us replace violence and intolerance with understanding, and compassion, and Love”
-Jane Goodall

10/02/2025

09/16/2025

Solution-focused challenge!

Before each significant interaction today, consider what you want to get bigger in this conversation. Remember, whatever we focus on, ask about, etc., will be bigger as a result.

08/26/2025

So often clients focus solely on being happy as their initial goal. I encourage solution-focused learners to instead invite the client to think in terms of a broader vision, since emotions, while important, are fleeting. As humans, our behaviors are expressions of our ability to successfully manage these more fluid emotional states.

08/25/2025

We are so much more than others assume!

08/14/2025

I often hear professionals say things about Solution-Focused Brief Therapy that give me pause. One of the most recent was the idea that the fundamental concept behind the model, the “not-knowing-stance,” was incompatible with social justice, being an ally, or might even have the potential to cause harm. I was initially shocked by the idea.

Unfortunately, there is a misperception that the not-knowing-stance is about turning off our brains as professionals and blindly following the client, even down an unrealistic or harmful path. This could not be further from the truth. In reality, the not-knowing- stance is one of great respect. It’s about lowering the power differential between client and professional while ensuring that each remains solidly in their area of expertise.

The professional is to step into the client’s world view and to ask questions that turn on the client’s brain. . . to get them to think in ways that are holistic about all aspects of their reality (including challenging concepts such as social injustice, drug cravings, making mistakes) . . . and how they will make decisions that help create the life they want despite these expected realities. Part of this conversation includes relationship questions. . . how others would be supporting them in this future place. Who would be their allies, what would “helping” or being an ally mean, etc. And yes. . . that can include us as the professional if the client desires.

In Solution-Focused practice we don’t set our compassion at the door. Instead, we step fully into it. We call out reality in all its ugliness at times, and explore with the client how they were successful in this future place despite it. The presupposition within our questions is not to deny reality or our responsibility as humans to help make the world a better place, but it is that the client’s voice is ultimately the one that matters in the conversation. It is their life. Our job is to turn on their brain and stand beside them shoulder to shoulder.

08/06/2025

I have mentioned Loretta J. Ross before on this page because of her revolutionary work as a social justice activist who works and thinks in a Solution-Focused way. I love her compassion for people and her focus on truly creating lasting change by “calling people in.”

One of my favorite quotes from one of her talks is from the Reverend C.T. Vivian who was an aide to Dr. Martin Luther King. C. T. said, “When you ask people to give up hate, then you need to be there for them when they do.” She goes on to say that calling someone out is “inviting them to a fight,” but calling them in is “inviting them into a conversation.” She goes on to explain there is even a third choice . . . calling on people.

Here’s the link if you’d like to learn more. . .

https://www.ted.com/talks/loretta_j_ross_don_t_call_people_out_call_them_in/up-next