Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) in Toronto
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) in Toronto
Not every problem needs to be excavated to its roots before things can improve. Sometimes the fastest way forward is to get very clear about where you want to go, notice what's already working, and do more of it. That's the premise of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy.
We offer SFBT in person on Dundas West and online across Ontario.
What is SFBT?
SFBT is a short-term, future-focused therapy. Instead of analyzing what's wrong, it concentrates on what you want instead, and on the strengths and resources you already have. It assumes change is always happening, and that small changes tend to lead to bigger ones.
Where it comes from
Steve de Shazer, Insoo Kim Berg and colleagues developed SFBT in the late 1970s and 1980s at the Brief Family Therapy Center in Milwaukee. They studied what actually helped in sessions and found that talking about solutions often produced change faster than talking about problems.
How SFBT works
The miracle question — if a miracle happened overnight and the problem were resolved, what would be the first thing you'd notice?
Exceptions — when is the problem absent or a little less bad? What's different then?
Scaling questions — on a scale of 0 to 10, where are you now, and what would one step up look like?
Strengths — how have you coped so far?
Small, concrete next steps you choose yourself
What SFBT can help with
Specific goals or decisions
Work stress and career questions
Life transitions
Relationship difficulties
Mild to moderate anxiety or low mood
Parenting challenges
Feeling stuck
SFBT at Noema is offered by
Is SFBT right for me?
It may suit you if you have a specific goal, want shorter-term therapy, or prefer a practical, forward-looking conversation. For complex trauma or long-standing patterns, we may suggest pairing it with a deeper approach.
SFBT in Little Portugal and across Ontario
Our office is at 1364 Dundas Street West in Little Portugal, between Ossington Avenue and Dufferin Street — steps from Brockton Village and a short walk to Dufferin Grove, Queen West, and Trinity Bellwoods. We're on the 505 Dundas streetcar line and near the 29 Dufferin bus and 63 Ossington bus, and Liberty Village, Parkdale and Roncesvalles are a quick ride away.
FAQs
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Often fewer than 10 sessions, sometimes just a few.
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No. We acknowledge what's hard. We just spend most of our time building toward what you want.
Here’s How to Connect
Fill out the form to schedule your free 20-minute intro call to explore how therapy can support you. We’ll help you get matched with the right therapist for you.
Email us with any questions you might have.
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Book your free 20-minute intro call today. Schedule at your convenience.
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