The authors analyse the infl uence of the concept of resilience in mental health and brief focal psychotherapy (BFP). BFP provides a response to rising health needs by determining the factors that impede a person’s normal evolutive process. It’s approach focuses on assessment, takes into account psycho-social features and identifi es the focal problems which may hinder a person, at any stage of his or her life cycle. BPF is proposed to people emotionally distressed by life events, who - without the help of a thorough assessment and treatment - may develop psycho- social disabilities. BFP reinforces some components of resilience, facilitates the understanding of evolutive obstacles and thus develops skills in self-therapy. The active role played by the client, as agent of change, reduces the duration of psychotherapies and ensures that the client’s evolutive process continues outside the psychotherapeutic setting and beyond the period of treatment.
Keywords: Brief focal psychotherapy, resilience, skills in self-therapy.

Maria Clotilde Gislon, Maria Bologna, Anna Maria Borziani, Stefano Crosato, Mara Fiaschi, Maria Moscara, The construct of resilience in brief focal psychotherapy in "RIVISTA SPERIMENTALE DI FRENIATRIA" 1/2010, pp. 75-96, DOI:10.3280/RSF2010-001006