This therapy creates a collaboration between the therapist and client to construct solutions and identify strengths, both internal (i.e. qualities, beliefs) and external (i.e. family, religious community). The process is present and future focused and invites the client to envision where he/or she desires to be and works to facilitate movement toward this end. Solution-focused therapy works from the individual's perspective rather than from the therapist's framework, and takes practical steps toward facilitating client goal attainment.

Some of the techniques used in solution-focused therapy are:

1. Miracle question: this is a means of questioning the client to assist in envisioning a future in which the problem is no longer present. Depending on the client and clinician, the question may be asked in a variety of formats, but in general the following elements are present: "If a miracle occurred tonight while you slept that solved this problem, only no one including yourself knew it was solved, what would be different, and how would you come to know the miracle occurred?"

2. Scaling questions: the client is asked to assign a number, typically on a scale of 0 to 10, to help measure abstract concepts like self-esteem, self-confidence, or willingness to change, as well as to help set goals, measure progress, and identify resources (i.e. "Raise mood to a 7 on the weekends", "Decrease anxiety by 3 points", "What would help raise the scale one point?").

3. Exception questions: the therapist asks for a time when the problems were not problematic, discovering a time before the problem, a time the situation had less power, or perhaps a time of remission. This allows for discovery of strengths, skills, or tools the client may have deployed already to manage the situation, or assists the client in seeing the problem is not all-powerful and has not existed for all time.

4. Coping question: this is a question designed to underscore resources the client has not noticed. For example, the client may be overwhelmed by daily life and reporting significant depressive or anxious symptomology. In response, the therapist reflects, "I hear you say things are overwhelming, yet I am struck by how you get up each day and do all that is required to get the kids off to school and get to work. How do you do that?" with genuine curiosity, providing truth, validating the client's story (difficult feelings), and providing hope (drawing out coping skills).