How to Coach Yourself and Others Coaching Families

4. Outline of Therapist Interventions Therapists have a range of interventions open to them in working with the family to co-create change. The 4 interventions listed below are those which are most commonly used in systemic family therapy and should be used in therapist’s practice throughout the course of therapy. The degree to which each of these interventions will be used will vary throughout the course of therapy, and therapists’ should follow the guidelines below regarding this. Additional interventions that are used less frequently are highlighted in the appropriate stage of therapy.  Sections 6, 7, & 8. 4.1 Linear Questioning Direct linear questions can often be useful in gathering information from the system and clarifying information given, especially at the beginning of therapy. Linear questions can be built up in a circular manner around the family by asking different family members the same/similar linear questions. Linear Questions Examples     How old are you? Where do you go to school? What do you do if you are upset? What do you do after that? 4.2 Circular Questions Circular questions are aimed at looking at difference and therefore are a way of introducing new information into the system. They are effective at illuminating the interconnectedness of the family subsystems and ideas. A variety of circular questions may be used by the therapist as outlined in Table 2. These may be more or less appropriate as therapy progresses. The use of particular types of circular questioning at different stages of the therapy will be highlighted throughout the manual. The time scale of circular questions often changes fluidly between the past, present, future. Circular Question Examples Type of Circular Question Examples About another’s state / behaviour / What do you think John is feeling? beliefs What do you think John is feeling when he shouts at you? What ideas do you think John might have about that? Offering alternative perspectives What does John think of your school performance? If I asked a teacher what would they say about it? About relationships - direct - indirect Do the girls really dislike each other? How do the children react when they see you arguing? Circular Definitions When you and John raise your voices and Jill starts crying what does John do then? About possible futures What will you think in 5 years time? Miracle question: Imagine you woke up tomorrow morning and all the difficulties you were experiencing currently had disappeared, 205

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