Solution focused brief therapy
The SFBT approach was developed by Kim Berg and
Steve de Shazer (Berg and Jong, 2002). It is based around
talks, where the focus is on solutions and the users’
resources, with an emphasis on the user developing
strategies to solve their problems. Acknowledging the
experience and recourses of the individuals are among
the basic approaches in SFBT (Berg and Jong, 2002).
People are able to change and this shift from being a
victim to taking a stand creates optimism, self-belief and
hope that their situation is changeable.
Children who are bullied often become extremely
introvert, finding it difficult to make friends for fear of
rejection. The SFBT approach uses the role of friendship
in promoting social and emotional competence in pupils.
It is paramount that school nurses are appropriately
trained to give the right support to affected children.
One example where SFBT was successfully used is
presented in the following case study, based on Sue
Young’ approach (1998; Young and Holdorf, 2003)
called The support group approach to bullying in schools.
(The names used in this case study are fictitious for
confidentiality reasons.)