The attitude of the therapist is one of ‘leading from
one step behind’ and ‘not knowing’, meaning that
the therapist asks questions and does not give
advice. The therapist encourages the client to
describe progression towards the therapy goal in
small, specific, behavioural steps. The therapist also
suggests tasks such as ‘continue with what is already
working’ in order to stimulate or maintain changes.
At the start, variations in the relationship with the
client (i.e. whether it is a visitor, complainant or
customer relationship) are identified. In a visitor
relationship, the client is referred to the therapist by
others, has not voluntarily sought help and is not
experiencing emotional difficulties. In a complainant
relationship, the client is experiencing emotional
difficulties, but does not (yet) see him- or herself as
part of the problem and/or the solution. In a customer
relationship, the client does see him- or
herself as part of the problem and/or solution and is
motivated to change his or her behaviour. Each type
of relationship requires different approaches by the
solution-focused therapist towards the client. For
example, in the visitor relationship the therapist may
ask what the client thinks the person who referred
would like to see changed in his or her behaviour
and to what extent the client is prepared to
co-operate. In the complainant relationship, the
therapist acknowledges the client’s difficulties and
gives suggestions for observing the moments when
the problem is or was present to a lesser extent. In
the customer relationship, the client may be given a
behaviour assignment (e.g. ‘continue with what is
already working’). More information about SFBT is
given in the treatment protocol in the Method
section.