Epistemological Foundations and Key Strategies of Postmodern Counseling: A comparative analysis of solution-focused and narrative approaches

Objectives: This study aimed to compare and analyze the philosophical foundations, key concepts, and counseling techniques of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) and Narrative Therapy, and to propose strategies to promote their broader adoption and deeper application in the domestic counseling field. Methods: A literature review was conducted using qualitative sources such as core theoretical texts, writings by major authors, counseling case descriptions, and relevant secondary literature. Results: The principles and strategies of the two models were comparatively analyzed across six domains: suggestiveness, visualization, reframing, exceptions (unique outcomes), social discourse and ethics of practice, and emotion. The study then discussed implications for postmodern counselor training, including deconstruction of the act of questioning, contextual and integrative uses of various techniques within the spatiotemporal journey of counseling, reconstruction of ways to address emotion and empathy, and transition from expert-centered to not-knowing and decentered positions. Conclusions: The study emphasizes the need to accumulate experiential research on postmodern counseling, disseminate practice stories, and reflect on counseling as a culturally embedded practice.