Embracing Change with Solution-Focused Therapy training at Oxonia Care Consultancy

At Oxonia Care Consultancy, we’re committed to empowering looked-after children and their families to create brighter, more hopeful futures. Leading our hands-on work is a highly qualified consultant an experienced residential children’s home manager with nearly a quarter of a century of experience in a variety of settings. Fully trained in Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), a registered Social Worker, and a Complex trauma-trained practitioner accredited by the British Psychological Society, our specialist consultant brings a unique blend of skills to every family and team we support. Here’s how we use SFBT to transform lives—and why it’s making a difference.

A Brief History of Solution-Focused Therapy

SFBT, often called “solution focus” or “brief therapy,” emerged in the late 1970s through the pioneering work of Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg at the Milwaukee Brief Family Therapy Centre. Rooted in social constructivist philosophy which explores how language shapes thinking and behaviour. SFBT marked a departure from traditional “problem-focused” therapies that viewed issues as repetitive patterns to be dissected.

In his groundbreaking 1984 article, “The Death of Resistance”, de Shazer argued for a radical shift: instead of battling resistance or dwelling on what’s wrong, therapy should highlight what’s already working. This strengths-based approach became the foundation of SFBT, focusing on clients’ resources, successes, and visions for a better future.

What Makes SFBT Different?

Unlike therapies that delve deeply into historical problems, SFBT is forward-looking. It asks: What do you want to achieve? From there, practitioners use respectful curiosity to help clients imagine their “preferred future” and identify steps, big or small, toward it. Conversations centre on:

• Best hopes: Establishing what children and families want from the support process.

• Preferred futures: Exploring what life looks like when those hopes are realized.

• Exceptions and strengths: Identifying times when problems lessen and highlighting existing coping strategies.

• Progress tracking: Using scaling questions (e.g., “On a scale of 1-10, where are you now?”) to measure movement toward goals.

• Building momentum: Complimenting efforts and addressing setbacks with practical next steps.

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At its core, SFBT believes that change is constant and that families are the experts in their own lives. Our role? To guide them toward recognising their strengths and constructing a concrete, achievable vision for the future, guided by a consultant who brings deep insight from residential care and trauma-informed practice.

Why SFBT Works for Looked-After Children and Families

For looked-after children and their families, life can feel defined by challenges—trauma, separation, or instability. A strengths-based SFBT approach offers a refreshing alternative. It acknowledges difficulties without letting them dominate the narrative, instead shining a light on resilience, past successes, and practical steps forward. Our consultant’s expertise in complex trauma, ensures that even the toughest experiences are met with safety, sensitivity and skill.

Evidence supports its effectiveness. A 2013 systematic review by Bond et al. found that SFBT significantly improves behavioural outcomes and family functioning, particularly for vulnerable populations (Journal of Marital and Family Therapy). Similarly, a 2018 study by Franklin et al. highlighted SFBT’s success in reducing emotional distress and enhancing coping skills in children in care (Research on Social Work Practice). These findings align with the Munro Review (2011), which emphasized the need for child-centred, outcome-focused approaches in social care principles SFBT embodies.

How Oxonia Care Consultancy Brings SFBT to Life

At Oxonia Care Consultancy, we’ve been trained by world leaders at BRIEF in London, equipping us to deliver SFBT with precision and care. Our specialist consultant, who is an experienced residential childrens homes manager, registered social worker and qualified therapist helps drive this work, blending practical experience with advanced training to create lasting impact. Our services include:

• Small group and whole-team training: We equip practitioners with a common language and framework to drive consistent, positive change.

• Ongoing support: Frequent refreshers ensure skills stay sharp and outcomes remain strong.

• Tailored consultancy: We help teams harness what’s working, amplify it, and address setbacks safely and effectively.

The power of language is central to our work. How we frame discussions shapes what’s possible, something research consistently backs up. A 2020 study by Kim et al. (Families in Society) found that solution-focused interventions lead to quicker, more sustainable improvements in family dynamics compared to traditional methods, making efficient use of time and resources.

Real Change, Step by Step

Being “solution-focused” is more than a buzzwor, it’s a proven way to support looked-after children and families. We see it in action: families moving from survival to thriving, children gaining confidence, and teams uniting around a shared, hopeful vision—all guided by our specialist consultant whose qualifications and experience light the way. Change is already happening, our job is to find what works and encourage more of it.

Ready to explore how SFBT can transform your practice or support the families you serve?

Contact us today to learn more about our training and consultancy services, delivered by a team that includes a seasoned expert in residential childcare and trauma-informed care.

References

1. Bond, C., Woods, K., Humphrey, N., Symes, W., & Green, L. (2013). “The effectiveness of solution-focused brief therapy with children and families: A systematic review.” Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 39(4), 458-472.

2. Franklin, C., Zhang, A., Froerer, A., & Johnson, S. (2018). “Solution-focused brief therapy with at-risk youth: A review of outcomes.” Research on Social Work Practice, 28(3), 245-256.

3. Munro, E. (2011). The Munro Review of Child Protection: Final Report. Department for Education, UK.

4. Kim, J. S., Brook, J., & Akin, B. A. (2020). “Solution-focused brief therapy with families: A review of the evidence.” Families in Society, 101(2), 156-168.