Solution Focused Therapy

WHAT IS SOLUTION FOCUSED THERAPY?

Whereas traditional therapy practices focus on past traumas and experiences, Solution Focused Therapy (SFT) is goal directed and centers around exploring your current hopes for the future. Also known as Solution Focused Brief Therapy, this method takes root in the idea that you know what is best for yourself. With the right coaching, you can create solutions to your problems and plan for a better future.

HISTORY OF SOLUTION FOCUSED THERAPY

SFT was developed in the late 1970s by Steve de Shazer, Insoo Kim Berg, and their colleagues. These practitioners studied the amount of time, money, and resources that were invested in traditional therapy methods and realized that for a lot of clients these methods were inefficient. Because the focus of these methods is past traumas, often the original problems that caused clients to seek therapy continued. This team created SFT in order to alleviate the amount of time people spend in therapy while creating realistic and lasting solutions.

SOLUTION FOCUSED THERAPY SESSIONS

As the name suggests, Solution Focused Therapy is very goal oriented. In SFT, counselors ask specific types of questions to help clients recognize their own virtues and strengths. During therapy, clients learn to recognize their strengths and apply that towards finding solutions and making positive changes as quickly as possible. Three types of questions that Solution Focused Therapists ask are:

  • Coping Questions – These questions aim to demonstrate to clients their own strengths when it comes to resiliency. Through coping questions, clients come to realize the ways in which clients are already capable of overcoming challenges in their own lives.
  • Miracle Questions – A Solution Focused practitioner might use these questions to help a client explain how their lives would look without the current problem they are facing. Through these questions, individuals identify small steps they can take towards solutions.
  • Scaling Questions – These kinds of questions are used so that a practitioner can better understand how hopeful, motivated, and confident an individual is. Scaling questions are used when clients have trouble verbalizing or may not understand the challenges they are currently facing.

BENEFITS OF SOLUTION FOCUSED THERAPY

Solution Focused Therapy is used in conjunction with other types of therapies and has been widely successful in individual therapy, as well as family therapy and couples counseling. SFT also has a proven positive effect with young individuals who are experiencing behavioral or school-related concerns.

A benefit of Solution Focused Therapy is that it is entirely focused on providing you with the tools to fix your problems efficiently and to give you the best return on your investment. This method is a really great option for clients focused on the present or future.

POSSIBLE DRAWBACKS OF SOLUTION FOCUSED THERAPY

Due to the quick and solution-oriented nature of this method, SFT may not be the best option for clients who are experiencing severe mental health concerns or clients who need to overcome past traumas. Clients wishing to explore the underlying causes to maladaptive behaviors may find therapy options that address those concerns more helpful.

SOLUTION FOCUSED THERAPISTS AT GIBSON COUNSELING

Sheryl Stiffler, LMFT

Sheryl Stiffler, LMFT

Sheryl's Patient Portal / New Client RegistrationRead more about Sheryl

Location:  Video Therapy for residents in Texas

Insurances Accepted:  Aetna (NO AETNA EAP), BCBS, Beacon, Cigna/Evernorth (NO CIGNA EAP), Humana, Multiplan/PHCS, Sendero, United Health Care (UMR, Oscar, Optum, Allsavers), Triwest-VA, Self pay $150 

Accepting New Clients:  NO      (Video only)​ Daytime availability only

Expertise: Kids (6 yr and up), Adults and Couples

Ana "Rebeca" Ramirez, LPC

Ana "Rebeca" Ramirez, LPC

Rebeca's Patient Portal / New Client Registration Read more about Rebeca

Location: In person in Cedar Park or Video for Texas residents

Insurances Accepted:  Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, United Health Care (UMR, Oscar, Optum, Allsavers), Multiplan/PHCS, Humana, Sendero, Triwest, Tricare, Self pay $150

Accepting New Clients:   Yes- but adults only at this time.  All evening and late afternoons are booked.  Morning availability only.

Rebeca speaks both English and Spanish. Rebeca habla español.

Expertise: Adults and Children 7 and up

Sheila Moore-Bunch, LCSW

Sheila Moore-Bunch, LCSW

Sheila's Patient Portal / New Client Registration Read more about Sheila

Location: In person and virtual in Cedar Park for Texas residents

Insurances Accepted:   Aetna,  Cigna, Humana, United Health Care (UMR, Oscar, Optum, Allsavers), Self pay $150  COMING SOON: BCBS

Accepting New Clients:   Yes

Expertise: Adults only, no couples and no kids

 

David "Nathan" Evans, LPC

David "Nathan" Evans, LPC

Nathan's Patient Portal / New Client Registration Read more about Nathan

Location:   In Person Cedar Park and Video for Texas residents

Insurances Accepted:  Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, United Health Care (UMR, Oscar, Optum, Allsavers), Multiplan/PHCS, Humana, Sendero, Self pay $150

Accepting New Clients: Yes-video only

Expertise: Adults and kids over 15 (no couples)

Mary Ellen Martin, LMFT

Mary Ellen Martin, LMFT

MaryEllen's Patient Portal / New Client Registration Read more about MaryEllen

Location: In person South Round Rock and Video Therapy for residents in Texas

Insurances Accepted:  Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Humana Sendero, United Health Care (UMR, Optum, Oscar, Allsavers), Multiplan/PHCS, Self pay $150 

Accepting New Clients:   No

Expertise: Kids (6 yrs and older), Adults, Couples

Sasha Sharp, LPC

Sasha Sharp, LPC

Sasha's Patient Portal / New Client Registration Read more about Sasha

Location: In person and virtual in Cedar Park for Texas residents

Insurances Accepted:   Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Humana, Sendero, United Health Care (UMR, Oscar, Optum, Allsavers), Multiplan/PHCS, Self pay $150

Accepting New Clients:   Monday and Friday appointments Virtual only available. All in person days are booked. Please call 512-633-7839 if you can do virtual only Monday and Friday and we will send you a registration link.

Expertise: Adults and Children 7 and up

 

Sally Guerra, LPC

Sally Guerra, LPC

Sally's Patient Portal / New Client Registration Read more about Sally

Location: Video Only for Texas Residents

Insurances Accepted:  Aetna (NO AETNA EAP),  Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna/Evernorth (NO CIGNA EAP), Humana, Multiplan/PHCS, Sendero, Tricare,  United Health Care (UMR, Oscar, Optum, Allsavers), Triwest-VA, Self Pay $150

Evaluations Offered: ADD, ADHD, Mood Disorders, Anger Issues and PTSD

Accepting New Clients:  YES  (VIDEO ONLY)

Video only  (Children age 12 and up)

Expertise: Kids (5yr and up), Adults and Couples

Paulina Pina, LPC

Paulina Pina, LPC

Paulina's Patient Portal / New Client Registration Read more about Paulina

Location: In person South Round Rock and Video Therapy for residents in Texas

Insurances Accepted: Aetna (NO AETNA EAP), Beacon Options, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna/Evernorth (NO CIGNA EAP), Humana, Multiplan/PHCS, Sendero, Tricare,  United Health Care (UMR, Optum, Oscar, Allsavers), Triwest-VA, Self pay $150 

Accepting New Clients:  NO

Expertise:Kids (8 yrs and older), Adults and Couples

Whitney Briggs, LPC-S

Whitney Briggs, LPC-S

Whitney's Patient Portal / New Client RegistrationRead more about Whitney

Location: Video Therapy for residents in Texas

Insurances Accepted: Aetna (NO AETNA EAP), Beacon Options, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna/Evernorth (NO CIGNA EAP), Humana, Multiplan/PHCS,  Sendero, Tricare,   United Health Care (UMR, Optum, Oscar, Allsavers) , Triwest-VA, Self pay $150

Accepting New Clients:   NO   (Video Only)  ADULTS, COUPLES & CHILDREN OVER 12

Expertise: Adults

Rhonda Mack, LPC

Rhonda Mack, LPC

Rhonda's Patient Portal / New Client RegistrationRead more about Rhonda

Location: In person Cedar Park and Video Therapy for residents in Texas

Insurances Accepted:    Blue Cross Blue Shield,  United Health Care (UMR, Oscar, Optum, Allsavers), Humana, Cigna/Evernorth (no EAP), Aetna (no EAP) , Multiplan/PHCS, Sendero, Triwest-VA, Self pay $150

Accepting New Clients:  YES 

(Video and in person)

Expertise:  Adults , Couples and Adolescents ages 14 and up

Eleny Guerrero Pena, LPC, LCDC

Eleny Guerrero Pena, LPC, LCDC

Eleny's Patient Portal / New Client RegistrationRead more about Eleny

Location: In person Cedar Park and Video Therapy for residents in Texas

Insurances Accepted:    Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Humana, Sendero, United Health Care (UMR, Oscar, Optum, Allsavers),  Multiplan/PHCS, Self pay $150

Accepting New Clients:  Yes (no children)

 Video and In person : Daytime hours only at this time ( 9am-1pm)

Expertise:  Adults , Couples

Amy Venn, LCSW-S

Amy Venn, LCSW-S

Amy's Patient Portal / New Client Registration Read more about Amy

Location: Video Only for Texas

Insurances Accepted:  Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna/Evernorth, Humana, United Health Care (UMR, Oscar, Optum, Allsavers), Multiplan/PHCS, Sendero, Triwest, Self pay $110

Accepting New Clients:   No  (Video only)

Expertise: Adults and Children (12 and up), No Couples

Danielle Linders, LPC, LCDC

Danielle Linders, LPC, LCDC

Danielle's Patient Portal / New Client RegistrationRead more about Danielle

Location: In person South Round Rock and Video Therapy for residents in Texas

Insurances Accepted: Aetna (NO AETNA EAP), Beacon Options, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna/Evernorth (NO CIGNA EAP), Humana, Multiplan/PHCS, Sendero, Tricare,   United Health Care (UMR, Oscar, Optum, Allsavers)  , Triwest-VA, Self pay $150 

Accepting New Clients:  NO

Expertise: Adults -Individuals only

Hours
Mon By Appointment
Tue By Appointment
Wed By Appointment
Thu By Appointment
Fri By Appointment
Sat By Appointment
Sun Closed
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2201 Double Creek Drive, Unit 1003, Round Rock, TX 78664
(512) 633-7839
921 West New Hope Drive, Suite 201, Cedar Park, TX 78613
(512) 633-7839