“Questioning” is the basis of brief psychotherapy. The characteristics of “positivity,” “pragmatism,” and “collaboration” in brief psychotherapy sustain many other psychotherapies, and this phenomenon has been metaphorically compared to a computer operating system in this study. In addition, brief psychotherapy is discussed in the context of the many contemporary problems it faces. For example, difficult questions about organ transplantation make a person and others concerned make a choice that may affect the rest of their lives. Problems like these correspond with “questioning within a limited time.” Brief psychotherapists utilize the characteristics of such questions in applying their expertise to support clients. Further investigation is needed regarding specific words used in brief psychotherapy.

In this paper, to redefine “brief,” I first confirmed when brief therapy began. Milton Erickson and Gregory Bateson are often mentioned as originators of brief therapy. I believe it is also worth noting Alfred Adler’s clinical practice and idea, which were introduced long before the former’s, as the origin of “brief.” Adler’s clinical practice has much in common with modern brief therapy, which is short-term, effective, and efficient. Adlerian psychology consists of the trinity system of technique, theory, and “idea.” Until now, brief therapy has developed various techniques and theories and has contributed greatly to the development of clinical psychology. However, idea was never discussed in brief therapy. It is important to consider Adler’s “clinical idea” as we think about future “brief.” Therefore, I selected three key words that are common items in the clinical idea of brief therapy: “clinical subjectivity,” “clinical optimism,” and “externalization.” I then came up with a suggestion of the clinical idea of “brief,” considering which, it is possible to redefine “brief.”

In psychological interviews, some clients cannot follow the established treatment procedures. This study discussed the utilization of pacing and leading adjusting to a client who had experienced therapy dropout. The client became sexually excited when he touched a glass window. One day, he touched the glass window of a complete stranger, resulting in his arrest. First, the therapist accepted the client’s thought and action. Then, the therapist led the client to touch glass legally. This study suggests the following: 1. it is effective to pace clients’ thoughts and actions in which they persist; and 2. it is effective to lead clients to a desirable goal by slightly changing what they persist in.