Empirical Investigation of the Effectiveness of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy for Career Decision-Making Difficulties Among University Students in Abuja

Solution-focused brief therapy offers a strength-based and time-efficient counselling approach for career indecision that has strong theoretical rationale but limited empirical evaluation in Nigerian university contexts, where career decision difficulties are prevalent and counselling resources are constrained. This study empirically evaluated the effectiveness of SFBT for career decision-making difficulties among final-year students at the University of Abuja, Federal Capital Territory. A randomised controlled design was employed, with 60 students exhibiting significant career decision difficulties assigned to SFBT (n=30) or a career information provision control condition (n=30). SFBT comprised six individual sessions focused on preferred future construction, exception identification, scaling progress, and career goal specification. The Career Decision Scale and the Career Decision Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form were administered at baseline, post-intervention, and 6-week follow-up. Intent-to-treat analysis showed significant reductions in career indecision in the SFBT group at post-treatment (p < 0.001, d = 1.68) versus non-significant change in the control group. Career decision self-efficacy increased significantly in the SFBT group (p < 0.001). Gains were fully maintained at 6-week follow-up. Client session rating scores averaged 4.7 out of 5. The study fills a gap in SFBT career counselling outcome research in Nigeria and recommends adoption of SFBT as a first-line brief intervention for career decision difficulties in Nigerian university counselling centres, with particular suitability for high-caseload counselling services. Keywords: solution-focused brief therapy, career decision-making, university students, Abuja, SFBT effectiveness