Solution-Focused Practice Introductory Course
About this course
The full course is 2 full days which can be completed over 2 consecutive weeks OR delegates may opt to leave a gap before attending day two and completing the course.
Solution-Focused Practice was developed in the 1980s in Milwaukee, USA. The approach was developed as a model of therapy; however, it is now widely applied across, health, social care, and educational settings. It can be applied in any setting, whether it be in an organisation, a community, groups, families, parenting, as well as for individuals. One of its key strengths is its focus on simplicity, which makes it accessible as well as applicable in many settings.
The solution-focused approach is a compassionate, hopeful, and effective approach to support people to achieve their own desired outcomes to issues in their lives. The approach places people as experts in their own lives; with the strengths and capabilities to reach their hoped-for change. The approach works together with people to enable them to have a clear vision of how they want their life to be, and how they would like things to be different. What their best hopes are for the future. So, the presence of what’s wanted, rather than the absence of what’s not wanted. The approach also pays attention to what’s working already, confirming it and building on it, and not focusing on the problem or analysing it.
Attend this course if you want to:
- Have an overview of solution-focused principles and tools
- Use solution-focused approaches in your work
- Learn about the robust evidence base and its wide applicability
- Be able to monitor and evaluate progress using consistent measures
Apply your learning straight away, and for approaches to be universally relevant to your work.
Course Times
The course duration is 9.30 am to 4.00 pm (UK Time) over two dates – For a list of course dates and times please go to the Booking page
Course pricing
| Book and pay online | Organisational payment | Student / Returner | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Course Price Per Person | £199 | £220 | £100 |
| Course Price From 1st April 2025 | £218.90 | £242 | £110 |
Please book your place here or alternatively, you can contact us if you are you would like to:
- Book four or more courses (we can offer you a discount)
- Make a block booking for a group
- Book a closed course
Course presenters
Naomi Whitehead
Naomi Whitehead (she/her) is a Solution-Focused practitioner accredited by the International Alliance of Solution-Focused Training Institutes. Naomi works online, in Sheffield, across the UK, and internationally, as a Solution-Focused coach, therapist and trainer.
Naomi’s background is in working with and coordinating services for adults facing multiple and complex challenges. This includes people who have experienced homelessness, the criminal justice system and substance misuse. Managing voluntary sector projects informs the structured yet playful, curious, and deeply respectful stance she brings to all her work.
Naomi discovered the Solution-Focused approach in 2003 and was inspired by its potential three years later when volunteering in young people’s prisons in Bolivia, South America. In 2015 She became a freelance practitioner. Naomi works in trauma therapy, executive and young women’s coaching, and reflective practice facilitation. She also delivers international training around current approaches and innovations. Naomi Whitehead represents the UK on the European Brief Therapy Association (EBTA) and is a full member of UKASFP and SFiO.
Tara Gretton
Solution-Focused Practice Consultant
Tara Gretton (she/her) has a background in social work and was introduced to the Solution-Focused approach in 2002. Prior to that, Tara was an aspiring actor working in Fringe theatre in Dublin. Tara worked with adults with learning difficulties until 2010 and then made the transition to Children’s Services in Bath. She worked in a social work team that used Solution-Focused Practice with adolescents and their families to prevent family breakdown and reduce the number of young people coming into care.
Tara has extensive experience in using the Solution-Focused approach with young people and their families. Since becoming a freelance Solution-Focused practitioner in 2014, Tara now works in many schools in her local area as a freelance Solution-Focused practitioner carrying out 1:1 work and group work with children and young people.
Tara is also a Solution-Focused consultant to schools and trains all staff within schools in the Solution-Focused approach. Tara has recently worked with a school that now calls itself a Solution-Focused school.
Tara Gretton runs an international Solution-Focused school network with a German colleague and delivers workshops internationally. Tara also runs a private practice from her family home in Bath.
Course topics
Day 1:
- Concepts of Solution-Focused Practice and their application within participant’s unique settings
- Solution-focused activities to experience benefits in thinking, perspective, confidence, and ability to help others in useful ways
- The assumptions of Solution-Focused Practice make it uniquely empowering for the people the course participants work with
- ‘Top tips’ and ‘quick wins’; how to use solution-focused techniques alongside existing practice
Day 2:
- Conversation exercises relevant to clients that course participants work with
- Integration of principles into personal and professional life; insights and progression pathways towards advanced practice
- Underpinning literature; staying up to date with current thinking
- Progression pathways to certification
Who this course is suitable for
Booking information
This course is presented Virtual Live – Online over Zoom
This course is available on various dates throughout the year. To view available course dates and book your place click here.
During the booking process, you can select to reserve a place instead (while you confirm you can attend or to organise payment through your employer for example). We can hold your place for up to four weeks, if we have not heard from you after this time, we may need to cancel your reservation so other people can attend the training.
Course Beetle is an approved supplier for NHS Trusts, Local Authorities and Schools.
Course testimonials
“Well-organised and easy to access the course materials. The presenters were clearly highly experienced but also had excellent facilitation/ teaching skills and their passion for their work was apparent and infectious! Examples of past cases and the video were very helpful in hanging the technique on.”
“I loved the practical parts where we practised the approach in breakout rooms as well as practising as a group, I also liked that we were encouraged to answer tricky questions sometimes! We all seemed to get to know each other really well in a relatively short amount of time. There was some lovely self exploration too – I found it useful for both personal and professional purposes. The course leaders are both very skilled.”
I would recommend this course to anyone – it has been an inspirational opportunity to reflect and learn and I am looking forward to taking SFP forward into my everyday work and personal life as well as seeking opportunities to continually learn and discover more about the approach.
SFP