HOW DOES SFT WORK?
SFT aims to help people experiencing difficulty find tools they can use immediately to manage symptoms and cope with challenges. It is grounded in the belief that although individuals may already have the skills to create change in their lives, they often need help identifying and developing those skills. Similarly, SFT recognizes that people already know, on some level, what change is needed in their lives, and SFT practitioners work to help the people in their care clarify their goals. Practitioners of SFT encourage individuals to imagine the future they desire and then work to collaboratively develop a series of steps that will help them achieve those goals. In particular, therapists can help those in treatment identify a time in life when a current issue was either less detrimental or more manageable and evaluate what factors were different or what solutions may have been present in the past.
ISSUES TREATED WITH SFT
SFT can be used to treat a wide range of issues. It is most often used to address challenges for which the person in therapy already has some idea of possible solutions. In SFT, the person seeking treatment is considered the "expert" on their concerns, and the therapist encourages the individual to envision their solution, or what change would look like, and then outline the steps necessary to solve problems and achieve goals. Because this modality focuses on solutions to issues, rather than the reasons behind them, it may be more effective at treating some concerns than others.
SFT may not be recommended for those who are experiencing severe mental health concerns.
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