History

The Institute started with a core group of 4 who have been learning, practicing, supervising and teaching SFBT exclusively for more than 20 years, in community mental health, inpatient mental health, universities, medical schools, child protection services, primary health services and private practice. This group has grown steadily with the addition of new associates. They have taught the model within their own programs, in public workshops, and under contract to various agencies in Canada, the US and Europe.

Faculty

Lance is a registered psychologist with 40 years experience as a therapist, clinical supervisor and manager in community mental health services and private practice. Initially trained in SFBT with Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg, he continues to emulate their work. He has been teaching SFBT himself at the international level for several years. He is a founding and current board member of the Solution Focused Brief Therapy Association in North America.

Martina is a nurse with 35 years experience as a therapist, clinical supervisor and manager in inpatient and community mental health.  She is our spirited leader in public relations and marketing. She sees ways to apply the solution focus in any setting. Her client work rests on a solid certainty about clients' capabilities to take effective actions on their own behalf. Her many athletic passions include hiking, skiing, running and yoga.

Janet is a registered psychologist who has worked as a therapist and clinical supervisor in various mental health settings in Canada. She has made a long standing commitment to solution focused work and delights in continual refinement of her skills. She is known by her students to be an inspiring teacher. Other passions in her life include a wide circle of close friends, her standard poodles and outdoor pursuits.

Darcy is a registered social worker who has worked as a mental health therapist and program manager in both community and inpatient mental health settings as well as private practice. She has a particular interest in leadership, management and organizational applications of the solution focus. Darcy is passionate in herdirection of programs to treat clients with respect and with a focus on their hopes and abilities.

Tara, a registered social worker, is one of a new generation of therapists who actually began her clinical career learning and applying solution focused brief therapy. In her position on a community mental health team, she has assisted many students and staff in learning the model through her role of clinical supervisor and teacher. She continues to be fascinated by the challenges of the simple model.

Renée, a registered psychologist, has been working in the helping professions for 20 years, in a group home with teenagers, in child welfare, and as a mental health therapist before entering private practice. She experimented with solution focused ideas for 14 years and then made the commitment to become a purist. Renée lives in Banff, Alberta where she enjoys skiing, mountain biking, climbing, and hiking.