Checklist,Description,andProceduresforApplicationforthe

InternationalSolutionFocusedPractitionerCertificate

Possessaterminaldegreeinaservicefield(counselingortherapy,education,social
services,businessconsulting,nursing).
Arelicensedorcredentialedtopracticeinyourfieldwithinyourjurisdiction,orare
workinginanorganizedsystemundersupervision.
SubmittedtheApplicationforCertification,whichwilllistthefollowing:
Completed50hoursofapprovedDirectTraininginSolutionFocusedBrief
Therapy,20ofwhichwerethroughtheDenverCenterforSolutionFocusedBrief
Therapyortheirstaff.
Completed100hoursofapprovedPersonalandProfessionalActivitiesin
SolutionFocusedPracticesoveraoneyearperiodoftime,andsubmittedthelog
ofthoseActivitiesforevaluation.Itmustincludeareflectionoflessonslearned
forevery20hourslogged.
Completed10hoursofindividualorsmallgroupconsultationwithDenver
CenterforSolutionFocusedBriefTherapyortheirstaffoverasixmonthperiod
thatoverlapswithyourPersonalandProfessionalActivities.
Paymentof$250.00ApplicationandExamFee(refundableminusa10%
administrativefeeifitisdeterminedpriortoadministeringtheexamthatyoudo
notpossesstheminimumqualifications).
OncetheDirectTraining,andPersonalandProfessionalActivitiesareapproved,the
examisdiscussedandscheduled.
Passedthethreepartexam:
Received70%ontheMultipleChoiceExamonSolutionFocusedFoundations
Passedanoral(inpersonortelephone/Skype)roleplaywiththeexaminer
exemplifyingyourskilllevelutilizingSolutionFocusedPractices
Passedanoral(inpersonortelephone/Skype)Interviewtodemonstrate
integrationofSolutionFocusedPracticeswithyourwork.
Uponsuccessfulcompletionoftheserequirements,theInternationalSolutionFocused
PractitionerCertificateisawarded.

DescriptionofRequirementsandProceduresforCertification

ItisthedesireofIASTIandtheDenverCenterforSolutionFocusedBriefTherapy,LLCtocertifyqualified
practitionerswhoarecommittedtoprovidingexcellentprofessionalworkusingtheprinciplesof
SolutionFocusedBriefTherapy.Itisalsoourintentiontomaketheprocessofcertificationan
affirmative,interesting,andcollegialone.Assuch,wehavedesignedaprocesswhich,webelieve,
assuresthoseobtainingcertificationindeedpossesstheneedededucation,training,experience,and
skilllevelinSolutionFocusedpractices,whileatthesametimemakingtheprocessitselfapositive
experience.

HaveaTerminalDegreeandPossessaLicenseorCertificatetoPracticeinaServiceField

Aterminaldegreeisrequiredforcertification,andreferstothefinaldegreenecessarytoworkinyour
respectivefield.ThatmaybeanM.D.inmedicine,aPh.D.inclinicalorcounselingpsychology,a
MastersinCounselingorSocialWork,anBachelorsinEducationornursing,oraSpecialistorAssociates
degreeinSubstanceAbuseCounseling,oraBachelorsorMastersinBusinessAdministration.Itwould
notincludestudentswhoareworkingtowardadegreeunlesstheyalsohaveaterminaldegree(e.g.a
personwithaMastersinSocialWorkwhoisworkingtowardaPh.D.inSocialWork).Alicenseor
credentialtopracticemeansthatyoupossesstherequiredlicenseorcertificatetopracticewithinyour
jurisdiction,orareworkinginanorganizedsocialservicesetting(forexample,amentalhealthcenter,
substanceabuseagency,school,institute,etc.).

ThelogicbehindthisrequirementisthattheInternationalSolutionFocusedPractitionerCertificate
recognizesspecializededucationandtraininginSolutionFocusedpractices,butisnotapracticedegree
orcertificationitself,andisnotintendedtosupplanttherequireddegreesandcertificatesrequiredto
legallypracticeinagivenjurisdiction.

Complete50HoursofDirectTraininginSolutionFocusedBriefTherapy

Directtrainingistheorganizedformaltrainingthatcantakeplaceinaclassroomwithateacher/trainer.It
includesthetrainergivinglecturesdescribingthemodel,butalso;exercisestargetingspecificSolution
Focusedtechniques,thestudyingofvideotapedsessions,watchingliveinterviewswithclientsandother
workonspecificexamplecases.Directtrainingcouldbeprovidedviaformaluniversityacademicregularor
onlinecoursesinSolutionfocusedBriefTherapy,orprofessionalworkshopsconductedbyIASTIinstitutesor
theirequivalent.Inallcases,thedecisiontoacceptacourseorworkshoptowardtherequirementfor
CertificationrestswiththeDenverCenterforSolutionFocusedBriefTherapy,LLC.

TwentyhoursoftheDirectTrainingmustbeprovidedbytheDenverCenterforSolutionFocusedBrief
Therapy,LLCoritsstaffinordertoobtainthecertificationfromDenverCenterforSFBT.Therestofthe
traininghourswillbeevaluatedbythestaffoftheDenverCenterforSFBTtodeterminetheiracceptability
towardcertification.

Complete100HoursofPersonal&ProfessionalActivities

Theseareactivitiesthatthetraineewillbeabletoexerciseinpartduringtheirnormalworkinghours.Since
thetrainingandpracticeoftheSolutionFocusedmodelismeanttobedoneatleastinpartwithinthe
contextoftraineeseverydayprofessionalactivities,traineesdonotnecessarilyneedtoallocateexclusive

timeforallrequiredhourstowardcertification.Examplesofthesetrainingactivitiesinclude:UsingSolution
Focusedtechniquesinclinicalsessionsorintheclassroomandevaluatingtheresult,readingassigned
SolutionFocusedtexts,peersupervision,roleplays,dailyprofessionaldiaries,orotherSolutionfocused
learningactivitiesidentifiedbytheDenverCenterforSFBT.Youmustcomplete10hoursofindividualor
smallgroupconsultationwiththeDenverCenterforSFBToverasixmonthperiodoftimethatoverlapswith
yourPersonalandProfessionalActivities.Theseconsultationhoursaremeanttoprovidealearning
environmentinwhichtodiscusslessonslearned,questionsthatarise,etc.fromtheactivities.

YouareencouragedtodiscusswiththeDenverCenterforSFBTstaffthedifferentpossibleactivitiestomake
certainthattheywillapplypriortocompletingthem.YouwilllogtheseactivitiesontoanActivityLogSheet.
Thelogmustincludethedetailsoftheactivity,thehoursspentperday,andlessonslearnedforevery20
hoursofactivity.Whenaminimumof100hoursarecomplete,submitthatwithyourApplication.

CompleteApplicationandPayFee

Afteryouhavedeterminedthatyoupossesstherequiredpracticedegree,havecompleted50hoursof
traininginSolutionFocusedBriefTherapy,andhavecompleted100hoursofappropriatepersonaland
professionalSolutionFocusedactivities,youwillsubmittheApplicationforCertification,whichisavailable
fromDenverCenterforSFBT.Thisapplicationwill,besidesaskingforbasiccontactandgeneraleducation
andworkexperienceinformation,alsoaskforalistingofthespecifictrainingthatyouhavehadinSolution
FocusedBriefTherapy.Inaddition,youwillattachtheLogofPersonalandProfessionalActivitiestothe
application.YourapplicationwillbereviewedbytheDenverCenterforSFBTsstafftodetermineifyouhave
mettheinitialrequirements,andthatyourdirecttrainingisacceptable.

Thereisa$250.00USDApplicationandExamfeerequiredatthetimetheinitialApplicationforCertification
issubmitted.IfforsomereasonyoudonotqualifyfortheCertificateforexample,youdonotpossessthe
requisitedegreeinaservicefield,oryourtraininghoursarenotacceptableyouwillreceivearefund
minusa10%administrativefee.Ifyourinitialapplicationisaccepted,butyoulaterdonottakeorpassthe
exam,yourfeewillnotberefunded.ThefeetoretakeanypartoftheExamis$75.00perpart.

Exam

OncetheinitialApplicationforCertificationhasbeenapproved,theexamwillbescheduled.The
purposeoftheexamwillbetodemonstrateyourbasicknowledgeofthefoundations,history,tenets,
etc.ofSolutionFocusedBriefTherapy;todemonstrateyourskillininterviewingandapplyingSolution
FocusedBriefTherapywithasimulatedsession;andtodemonstratehowyouhaveintegratedyour
training,andpersonalandprofessionalactivitieswithyourpracticeinyourfield.

Theexamwillconsistofthreeparts:

1. ObjectiveTest:Youwilltakeamultiplechoiceobjectivetestonthehistory,foundations,and
tenetsofSolutionFocusedBriefTherapy.Youmustreceiveatleast70%topassthisobjective
testcomponent,andyoumustpassitbeforetherestofyourexamwillbeadministered.
2. RolePlay:OneoftheDenverCenterstaffwillroleplaywithyouinpersonorvia
telephone/Skype.Youwilltelltheexaminerthegeneraltypeofclientyouwouldlikehim/herto
play,andyouwillplaythepartofthesolutionfocusedpractitioner.Theexaminerwilladlibin
ordertoensureyouhavethebasiclevelofskilltofollowandassistaclientinasolutionfocused
manner.Thisisyouropportunitytodemonstrateyourskilllevelandabilitytoapplythe
conceptslearned.

3. OralInterview:Thiswillbethefinalchancetodemonstrateyourknowledgeandfluiditywith
SolutionFocusedpractice.OneoftheDenverCenterstaffwillinterviewyouinpersonorvia
telephone/Skype,todiscussyourtraining,yourpersonalandprofessionalactivities,andhow
youhaveintegratedtheseintoyourwork.Thiswillobviouslybeasubjectiveevaluation,to
determinehowwellyouhaveintegratedyourtraininginSolutionFocusedpracticeswithyour
work.Thispartismostoftendoneduringthesamesessionastheroleplay.

IfYouDonotPasstheExam

Itshouldbenotedthatthepurposeofthisexamisnottoweedoutpeople,buttoassurethatthose
whowishtobecertifiedactuallypossesstherequisiteknowledge,training,experience,andskilllevelto
callthemselvesSolutionFocusedpractitioners.Ourintentionistohelpthosewhodesirethe
certification.

Ifyoudonotpasstheexam,wewillmakereasonableeffortstoworkwithyoutobeabletopassitata
laterdate.Inthosesituations,wemayrecommendfurthertraining,orfurtherstudy,orboth.Wemay
suggestmoretimepassduringwhichyoucanhaveexperienceworkinginaSolutionFocusedway.

Inallcases,thedecisionofDenverCenterforSolutionFocusedBriefTherapy,LLCtoawardthe
InternationalSolutionFocusedPractitionerCertificaterestssolelywiththeDenverCenterforSolution
FocusedBriefTherapy.Takingtrainingfromus,participatinginconsultation,orsubmittingan
ApplicationforCertificationalonedoesnotguaranteecertificationfromDenverCenterforSFBT.You
mustmeetalltraining,andpersonalandprofessionalactivityrequirements,andpassallthreesections
oftheexambeforethecertificateisawarded.

Disclaimers

ThetraininginSolutionFocusedpracticesofferedbytheDenverCenterforSolutionFocusedBrief
Therapy,LLCdoesnotconstitutenorreplaceclinicaloradministrativesupervision.Thetrainingoffered
issolelyeducational.Theclinical,educational,socialservice,orbusinessconsultativeworkperformedby
traineesisthetraineessoleresponsibility.Itistheresponsibilityofthetraineetoobtainsupervision,
bothclinicalandadministrative,fromappropriateprofessionals.

TheDenverCenterforSolutionFocusedBriefTherapyfurtherassumesnoresponsibilityfortheclinical,
educational,socialservice,businessconsulting,oranyotherprofessionalworkofthoseprofessionals
whoreceivededucationaltrainingfromDenverCenterforSFBToritsstaff.Allresponsibilitiesand
liabilitiesrestwiththeprofessionalsprovidingthoseservices.

DenverCenterforSolutionFocusedBriefTherapyhastherighttomodifyrequirementsforthe
InternationalSolutionFocusedPractitionerCertificateatanytime.Modificationmaybenecessaryto
remainincompliancewithchangesmadebyIASTIorduetoawidevarietyofqualitycontrolreasons.
DenverCenterforSolutionFocusedBriefTherapywillmakereasonableeffortstonotifythosewhoare
activelyworkingoncertificationthroughthisagencyofchangesinrequirementswhentheyoccur.

BasicsSkillstheExaminerisLookingforonAllThreeAreasoftheExam
SolutionFocusedSpecificTechniques
1.Understand,demonstrate,andapplyprinciplesofSolutionDevelopment.

2.UnderstandanduseSolutionFocusedQuestionsandinterviewtechniques.
TheTraineewillbeabletodemonstratecompetenceinusingandfollowinguponavarietyofSolution
Focusedquestionsincluding:
a.Scalingquestions
b.SolutionFocusedCopingQuestions
c.ExceptionQuestions
d.GoalDevelopmentQuestions
(Givenaspecificproblem,traineewillbeabletogenerateexamplesofscalingquestions,coping
questions,exceptionquestions,andgoaldevelopmentquestions,includingfollowingupon
them.)
e.TheMiracleQuestionandOtherGoalFormationQuestions
(TheTraineewillbeabletodemonstratetheSolutionFocusedMiracleQuestionanddescribe
howtoutilizeitwithclients,includingfollowinguponit.)
f.SolutionFocusedSafetyQuestion
(Traineeswillbeabletodemonstratethesolutionfocusedsafetyquestionasdescribed,for
example,bydeShazer&Dolan,2006,inMorethanMiracles)
g.Questionsaimedtofollowupandamplifychangehappeningbetweensessions,forexample
usingtheEARSmodel
3.SolutionFocusedcompliments,acknowledgment,andvalidation.
Thetraineeswillbeabletoformulateanddelivercontextuallyappropriatecompliments,
acknowledgment,andvalidation.
4.SolutionFocusedhomeworkassignments
thetraineeswillbeabletoformulateanddeliversituationappropriatehomeworkassignmentsand
followuponchangesduringfurthersessions.
Curriculum
ThebiggerpictureandbackgroundtotheSolutionFocusedmodel
TraineesmustdemonstratetheabilitytodifferentiatetheSolutionsFocusedmodelfromother
approachesandalsotorelateittootherapproaches.Thetraineemustbeabletodifferentiatethe
SolutionFocusedmodelfromotherrelevanttheoriesandapproachesinthecontextofthe
traineesprofessionalcircumstancesanddemonstratetheabilitytointegratebothintotheSolution
Focusedframework.
Attitude&Context
Traineesmustdemonstratetheabilitytocreateandworkwithinarespectful,nonblaming,creative,
andcooperativerelationship.Includingtheuseofpositivereframing.
Relationship&Interaction
Traineesmustbeabletousesystematic,dialogical,creative,andsituational(carpediem)interaction
thatopensdifferentperspectivesandpossibilities(coconstruction).

Resources
Traineesmustbeabletoappropriatelyutilizeandenhancehope,engagement,andpositiveemotions.
Traineesmustbeabletoactivateandmobilizetheclientsandotherlocalskills,resources,knowledge,
andexperiences.Traineesmustbeabletodemonstrateanabilitytofocusonwhatalreadyworksand
whatisalreadyachievedinrelationtoclientsgoalsandvisions.
Idealsandgoals
Traineesmustbeabletoworkeffectivelywithinthevisions,hopes,andidealsoftheclient:Helping
clientsformwellformedgoals
ProblemsandSafety
Traineeswilldemonstrateanabilitytoallowappropriatetimeforclientstoexpressworriesand
troubles.
Traineeswillalsobeexpectedtoexploreseriousdanger,harm,andrisksandensuresafetyforall
involvedinthesesituations.Theywillbeexpectedtohelpclientsdosomethingdifferentinproblem
situationstoprogresstowardstheirgoals.Inaddition,theywillbeabletoverbalizehowSFBTmeets
standardofcareinthisregard.
Traineeswillbeabletosupporttheclientsprogressbydefiningsmallactionablesteps:
Providingappropriatetasksandsuggestions.
Endingwork&Evaluation
Traineeswillbeabletodemonstrateanabilitytoreflect,evaluate,andendtheworkingprocess
appropriately.Theywillunderstandanddemonstrateageneralframework/skeletonforSolution
Focusedsessions,forexampleasdescribedinPichotwithSmock,2009,SolutionFocusedSubstance
AbuseTreatment.TheywillbeabletodeveloptheirownSolutionFocusedworkandskillsandthe
specifictechniquesforthisthatareprovidedinthetraining.