Workshop Description
Note: This is a 3-day CE session: Thursday, Feb. 19 – Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026.
2/19 9:00AM-3:30PM
2/20 9:00AM-3:30PM
2/21 9:00AM-1:00PM
This course offers full credit only. No partial credit will be awarded; attendance for all three days is required to receive CE units.
The training is structured to encourage and allow discussion and sharing of ideas. Active participation is required to receive a CE certificate. Please ensure your microphone and camera are working.
The purpose of the workshop is to provide an introduction and basic training in solution-focused brief practice. The model has been accepted as an evidenced based practice and there has been much research demonstrating the effectiveness of solution focus with varied populations and in varied contexts. The following topics will be covered during the 3 days:
- The model’s development and evolution
- Assumptions
- Solution-building versus problem-solving
- Co-constructive language.
- Listening to clients with “solution-focused ears.”
- The seven practical tools that keep the solution focus model effective and brief with video examples.
Solution-focus follows many of the social work precepts: “staying where the client is,” viewing clients as an integral part of their social environments, creating a collaborative relationship, and developing a client-centered approach.
Learning Objectives
After completing this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Name the 7 tools of solution-building.
- Name the 3 basic rules of solution building.
- List the 5 elements of the “thinking break.”
- Define “Language Game.”
- Name the characteristics of a useful goal.
- List the basic solution focused assumptions.
- Name the 4 stages of E.A.R.S.
- Through role-plays, demonstrate a beginning facility using the 7 tools of solution-building.
- Define microanalysis.
- Demonstrate the ability to use Opportunities Analysis to isolate possible opportunities for solution-building in 1 utterance example.
- Demonstrate the ability to extract possible solution-building responses to above isolated opportunities.
- Verbalize solution-building rationales for their chosen responses.
Continuing Education Credits: 16.0
This workshop is approved for licensed social workers, licensed mental health counselors, licensed marriage and family therapists, and licensed psychologists.
Fees
- NASW-NY Member - $240.00
- Other Chapter Members (e.g., NASW-NJ, etc.) - $400.00
- Non-Member - $480.00
- NASW-NY Student and Transitional Member (Non-CE Eligible) - $0.00
Presenter: Joel K. Simon, LCSW, ACSW, BCD
Joel Simon, LCSW, BCD, ACSW is a solution-focused therapist, trainer, supervisor, and author/co-author of four books on Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, and an organizational consultant with over 40 years of post-graduate experience and over 30 years as a solution-focused clinician, supervisor, and trainer. He is a frequent presenter of solution-focused practice at conferences and an author and co-author of articles on solution-focus published in professional journals including two with Insoo Kim Berg, a co-developer of the solution-focused approach (see resume). Joel is a founding member of the Solution-Focused Brief Therapy Association (www.sfbta.org).