Solution Focused Counseling in schools begins with a solid foundation in Solution-Focused Therapy

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy is best understood as a language and a way of connecting with people. In this model, we work as though every interaction could be the last. This means that each conversation is purposeful and, therefore, results in meaningful change in short periods of time. This makes Solution-Focused Therapy an ideal model for school settings and the high workloads typically found within. Solution-Focused Practice shifts our focus away from problems and pathology to what each student wants and needs in order to be successful. You can learn more about Solution-Focused Therapy here to see how this approach works.

Using Solution-Focused Therapy Techniques in School Counseling is Highly Effective with:

• High case loads
• Hallway talks or spontaneous conversations
• Developing socio-emotional skills
• Coaching teachers and administrators
• Works at all levels of education

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Solution-Focused School Counseling Training

Our classes on Solution-Focused Practice have been tailored to provide professional development for school counselors, educators, and others wanting to integrate the solution-focused school counseling approach into their work and achieve the highest level of effectiveness with even the most challenging student scenarios such as disruptive behavior, bullying, anxiety, truancy, and other high-risk issues. We offer three classes on this page that qualify for graduate level credit for advancement or professional development and that can facilitate school counselors’ transition to using Solution-Focused Therapy in schools. Additional topics to further develop skills for Solution-Focused School Counseling are available (without Grad Credit) through this link.

Browse our upcoming classes and enroll today. We intentionally keep classes small, so they fill up fast.

Contact tpichot@denversolutions.com for a free consultation to discuss onsite or personalized options for individual schools or districts.

Graduate Level Credit is Offered through Adams State University for Successful Completion of the Following Classes*:

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy Basics – 1.0 Graduate Credit

Upon completion of this course, school counselors will be able to:

1. Recognize the unique aspects of solution-focused philosophy and differentiate it from problem-focused models.
2. Describe the six solution-focused interventions and the purpose of each.
3. Identify five concrete tools that would be most effective in their work setting that they can immediately begin to use with their students.
4. Demonstrate the effective use of the five tools they identify in number three above.

Instructor: Teri Pichot

Dates Offered:

1. Dec. 9 & 10, 2024 (8:30-4:30) This Class Date is Online
2. Jan. 27 & 28, 2025 (8:30-4:30) This Class Date is Online
3. April 7 & 8, 2025 (8:30-4:30) This Class Date is Online
4. June 16 & 17, 2025 (8:30-4:30) Littleton Training Center
5. Aug. 18 & 19, 2025 (8:30-4:30) This Class Date is Online
6. Oct. 21 & 22, 2025 (8:30-4:30) Littleton Training Center
7. Dec. 8 & 9, 2025 (8:30-4:30) This Class Date is Online

Methods:

1. Demonstrations: The instructor will demonstrate the purposeful use of solution-focused interventions. She will demonstrate how these interventions are used in a way that has the necessary clinical depth to effectively help the students work toward their goals.
2. Role Plays: Participants will work with each other with the guidance of the instructor to practice the concepts discussed.
3. Discussions: The instructor and participants will engage in meaningful conversations to explore what is working in the participants’ practice and to explore what will be different when the participants are even more effective with their students.

If you want to pay by check, click here to download a registration form, fill it out, and mail it to us.

Using Solution-Focused Thinking to Prevent Burnout (AKA Protecting Professional Resiliency) – 0.5 Graduate Credit

This course is designed to introduce school counselors to solution-focused thinking as it was originally developed by Insoo Kim Berg and Steve de Shazer and teach them how to use these principles to prevent and reverse professional burnout. School counselors will learn to identify signs of professional burnout and stress and develop an “emergency roadside repair kit” to assist them in preventing the potential negative impact. School counselors will learn protective factors and how to use solution-focused thinking to decrease and address potential stress in the work place. These skills are also applicable to the students with whom school counselors work, and this application will also be explored.

Upon completion of this course, school counselors will be able to:

1. Recognize the unique aspects of solution-focused philosophy and differentiate it from problem-focused models.
2. Recognize the signs of professional burnout and stress.
3. Understand the role of the “emergency roadside repair kit” in preventing and reversing burnout.
4. Gain the ability to use the “emergency roadside repair kit” to prevent and reverse burnout in the workplace.

Instructor: Teri Pichot

Dates Offered:

1. Feb. 14, 2025 (8:30-4:30) This Class Date is Online
2. April 10, 2025 (8:30-4:30) This Class Date is Online
3. July 7, 2025 (8:30-4:30) This Class Date is Online

Methods:

1. Demonstrations: The instructor will demonstrate the purposeful use of solution-focused interventions. She will demonstrate how these interventions are used in a way that has the necessary clinical depth to effectively help the students work toward their goals.
2. Role Plays: Participants will work with each other with the guidance of the instructor to practice the concepts discussed.
3. Discussions: The instructor and participants will engage in meaningful conversations to explore what is working in the participants’ practice and to explore what will be different when the participants are even more effective with their students.

If you want to pay by check, click here to download a registration form, fill it out, and mail it to us.

Solution-Focused Animal-Assisted Brief Therapy – 0.5 Graduate Credit

This course is designed to introduce school counselors to the concept of the human-animal bond and teach how animal-related conversations and interactions can help create positive change in their students. School counselors will understand how the physiological and psychological changes that an animal’s presence (including the thought of a family pet) brings can be used in motivating, calming, and teaching students. School counselors will learn how to incorporate their students’ family pets into conversations and homework assignments that will bring the concepts to life.

Upon completion of this course, school counselors will be able to:

1. Recognize the student traits that would make the student likely to benefit from animal-related interventions in the school setting.
2. Describe five physiological and/or psychological benefits animals can have on humans.
3. Identify three ways in which animal-assisted conversations and interventions would be most effective in their work setting.
4. Gain the ability to effectively implement the strategies identified in number three above with their students.

Instructor: Teri Pichot

Dates Offered:

1. Feb. 5, 2025 (8:30-4:30) This Class Date is Online
2. Dec. 15, 2025 (8:30-4:30) This Class Date is Online

Methods:

1. Demonstrations: The instructor will demonstrate the purposeful use of solution-focused interventions. She will demonstrate how these interventions are used in a way that has the necessary clinical depth to effectively help the students work toward their goals.
2. Role Plays: Participants will work with each other with the guidance of the instructor to practice the concepts discussed.
3. Discussions: The instructor and participants will engage in meaningful conversations to explore what is working in the participants’ practice and to explore what will be different when the participants are even more effective with their students.

If you want to pay by check, click here to download a registration form, fill it out, and mail it to us.

Looking for Personalized Training for Your School Counselors or Staff?

We offer both online and in-person training for groups or staff to integrate Solution-Focused Therapy in schools for amazing results. Contact Teri by email for more information. tpichot@denversolutions.com

*Graduate Level Credit:

Graduate level credit must be purchased separately through Adams State University and is not included in the workshop costs. After successful completion of the workshop, you will be given the link to purchase graduate credit through ASU.

Cancellation Policy:

We must receive your written request to cancel seven business days prior to the course date in order to receive a full refund. All refunds will be less a five percent administrative fee. Cancellations received after seven days will not receive a refund, but a credit will be given to enroll in another training class. No future class credit will be given for "no shows." There are no minimum enrollment limits for any of our classes since we believe some of the best learning can occur in small groups. However, should a class need to be canceled due to instructor illness or weather, you will be given a full refund, or you may enroll in another class. Denver Center for SFBT is only liable for the cost of the class registration fees should a cancellation occur.

Continuing Education:

All classes and individual training services qualify as "Continuing Professional Development" as part of Colorado Department of Regulatory Agency's required Learning Plan for licensed professionals. CEU certificates are awarded following all classes and are available upon request following individual training services. If your state requires formal CEUs, we will work with you and provide any information you need in order to receive CEUs in your state. Please let us know what you need in order to receive credit for class attendance.

IASTI:

Denver Center for Solution-Focused Brief Therapy is a member of the International Association of Solution-Focused Teaching Institutes (IASTI). We are now offering the International Solution-Focused Practitioner Certificate. All classes and activities at Denver Center for SFBT count toward this certificate. The certificate, while not a clinical license, reflects basic knowledge, training, and practice in Solution-Focused practice. We are among the first in North America to offer the internationally reciprocal Solution-Focused Practitioner Certificate based on the official standards recently set by IASTI. The member Institutes of IASTI represent training institutes who are committed to high quality training and supervision in the Solution-Focused model, and represent a longstanding tradition in providing Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, coaching, consulting, supervision, and training.