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

Michelle Sumners, LCSW, LCDC

Michelle Sumners, LCSW, LCDC

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

Location: Counseling in Round Rock and virtual counseling for Texas residents

Insurances Accepted: Aetna (No EAP), Cigna/Evernorth (NO CIGNA EAP), Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Health Care (UMR, Oscar, Optum, Allsavers),  Sendero, Multiplan, Moda, Magellan, Scott and White, Triwest, Humana (No Medicare), Partners Direct, PHCS, Self pay $150 . We DO NOT accept Medicare or Medicaid.

Accepting New Clients: No

(no couples or kids)

Hours subject to availability: Monday through Friday 10am to 7 pm, Saturday 10am to 2pm in person or virtual Round Rock

Expertise: Adults and couples

Sheryl Stiffler, LMFT

Sheryl Stiffler, LMFT

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

Location:  Video counseling for residents in Texas

Insurances Accepted:  Aetna (NO AETNA EAP), BCBS, Humana, Moda, Magellan, Multiplan/PHCS, Sendero, Scott and White, United Health Care (UMR, Oscar, Optum, Allsavers), Partners Direct, Triwest-VA, Self pay $150 . We DO NOT accept Medicare or Medicaid.

Accepting New Clients:  YES     (Video only)​  Evening appointments available

Currently seeing:  Kids (6 yr and up), Adults  - Individuals Only (no couples at this time)

Susan Valley, LCSW

Susan Valley, LCSW

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

Location: Counseling in Cedar Park and Video counseling for residents in Texas

Insurances Accepted:    Aetna (No EAP), Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna /Evernorth (No EAP), Humana, Partners Direct, Sendero, Scott and White, Magellan, Moda, United Health Care (UMR, Oscar, Optum, Allsavers), Self pay $150. We DO NOT accept Medicare or Medicaid.

Accepting New Clients:  No

Hours subject to availability:   Monday: 2-7 pm Virtual only;   Tuesday and Wednesday In person or Virtual in Cedar Park 1pm to 6pm 

(Video and in person)

Expertise:  Adults, Couples and Teens (13 yrs and up)

David "Nathan" Evans, LPC

David "Nathan" Evans, LPC

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

Location: Counseling in Cedar Park and Video counseling for residents in Texas

Insurances Accepted:  Aetna (No EAP), Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna/Evernorth (No EAP), Partners Direct, United Health Care (UMR, Oscar, Optum, Allsavers), Scott and White, Triwest, Multiplan/PHCS, Magellan, Humana, Moda, Sendero, Self pay $150. We DO NOT accept Medicare or Medicaid.

Accepting New Clients: No

Hours subject to availability: Tuesday through Friday 1-pm to 7pm in person or virtual Cedar Park

Expertise: 

Mary Ellen Martin, LMFT

Mary Ellen Martin, LMFT

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

Location: Counseling in Round Rock and virtual counseling for Texas residents

Insurances Accepted:  Aetna (No EAP), Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna/Evernorth (No EAP), Humana, Partners Direct, Sendero, Scott and White, Triwest, United Health Care (UMR, Optum, Oscar, Allsavers), Moda, Magellan, Multiplan/PHCS, Self pay $150. We DO NOT accept Medicare or Medicaid.

Accepting New Clients:   YES  -  Individuals & Couples     (No kids at this Time )

Hours subject to availability: Monday through Thursday 10am to 630pm in person or virtual Round Rock

Expertise:

Ana "Rebeca" Ramirez, LPC

Ana "Rebeca" Ramirez, LPC

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

Location: Counseling in Cedar Park and Video counseling for residents in Texas

Insurances Accepted:  Aetna (No EAP), Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna/Evernorth (No EAP), Partners Direct, Scott and White, United Health Care (UMR, Oscar, Optum, Allsavers), Multiplan/PHCS, Humana, Magellan, Moda, Sendero, Triwest, Self pay $150. We DO NOT accept Medicare or Medicaid.

Accepting New Clients:  YES : Adult Individuals Only  (no children at this time)*

Hours subject to availability: Tuesday and Thursday 9am to 5pm, Monday and Friday 9am to 12pm in person or virtual cedar park

Rebeca speaks both English and Spanish. Rebeca habla español.

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 counseling for residents in Texas

Insurances Accepted:  Aetna (No EAP),  Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna/Evernorth (No EAP), Humana, Multiplan/PHCS, Sendero, Scott and White, Tricare, Partners Direct, United Health Care (UMR, Oscar, Optum, Allsavers), Moda, Magellan, Triwest-VA, Self Pay $150. We DO NOT accept Medicare or Medicaid.

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

Accepting clients:    YES    Video only  (Children age 12 and up)

Hours subject to availability: Wednesday 8am to 12, Thursday and Friday 8am to 5pm telehealth only

Expertise: Kids (12yr and up), Adults and Couples

Paulina Pina, LPC

Paulina Pina, LPC

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

Location: Counseling in Round Rock and virtual counseling for Texas residents

Insurances Accepted: Aetna (No EAP),  Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna/Evernorth (No EAP), Humana, Magellan, Moda, Multiplan/PHCS, Sendero,  Scott and White, Partners Direct,  United Health Care (UMR, Optum, Oscar, Allsavers), Triwest-VA, Self pay $150. We DO NOT accept Medicare or Medicaid.

Accepting New Clients:  No

Hours subject to availability: Monday through Thursday 10am to 4:30pm in person or virtual Round Rock

Paulina speaks both English and Spanish. Paulina habla español.

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

Rhonda Mack, LPC

Rhonda Mack, LPC

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

Location: Counseling in Cedar Park and Video counseling for residents in Texas

Insurances Accepted:    Moda, Blue Cross Blue Shield,  United Health Care (UMR, Oscar, Optum, Allsavers), Humana, Cigna/Evernorth (no EAP), Aetna (no EAP), Partners Direct, Magellan, Multiplan/PHCS, Sendero, Scott and White, Triwest-VA, Self pay $150. We DO NOT accept Medicare or Medicaid.

Accepting New Clients:  Yes - Adults, Couples and kids ages 12 and up.

Hours subject to availability:  Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 10am to 6pm in person or virtual at Cedar Park, Monday 2pm to 7pm virtual only, every other Saturday 10am-1pm virtual only

Expertise:  Adults, Couples and kids ages 12 and up

Sasha Sharp, LPC

Sasha Sharp, LPC

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

Location: Counseling in Cedar Park and Video counseling for residents in Texas

Insurances Accepted:   Aetna (No EAP), Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna/Evernorth (No EAP), Humana, Partners Direct, Sendero, Scott and White, United Health Care (UMR, Oscar, Optum, Allsavers), Moda, Multiplan/PHCS, Magellan, Triwest, Self pay $150. We DO NOT accept Medicare or Medicaid.

Accepting New Clients:   YES

Hours subject to availability: Tuesday through Thursday 9am to 6pm in person or virtual Cedar Park, Monday and Fridays 8am to 5pm telehealth only

Expertise: Adults and Children 7 and up

 

Amy Venn, LCSW-S

Amy Venn, LCSW-S

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

Location: Video counseling for residents in Texas

Insurances Accepted:  Aetna (No EAP), Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna/Evernorth (No EAP), Humana, Moda, United Health Care (UMR, Oscar, Optum, Allsavers), Multiplan/PHCS, Magellan, Sendero, Scott and White, Partners Direct, Triwest, Self pay $110. We DO NOT accept Medicare or Medicaid.

Accepting New Clients:   No

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

Danielle Linders, LPC, LCDC

Danielle Linders, LPC, LCDC

Justice, Therapy Dog in Training

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

Location: Counseling in Round Rock and virtual counseling for Texas residents

Insurances Accepted: Aetna (No EAP), Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna/Evernorth (No EAP), Humana (No Medicare programs), Multiplan/PHCS, Partners Direct, Sendero, Scott and White, United Health Care (UMR, Oscar, Optum, Allsavers), Moda, Magellan, Triwest-VA, Self pay $150. We DO NOT accept Medicare or Medicaid.

Accepting New Clients: No- Danielle has a therapy dog in training (Justice) during sessions

Hours subject to availability: Monday through Thursday 10am to 7pm in person or virtual Round Rock

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