How to Coach Yourself and Others Empowering Coaching And Crisis Interventions | Page 84

This book is in B&W, not color - Print page in Grayscale for Correct view! bipolar disorder, or drug addiction; clients who need help in dealing with the effects of childhood abuse; and clients with chronic eating disorders (Hoyt, 1994). Selected Brief Counselling Techniques Precounselling Change Momentum for change is often established at the moment that clients seek counselling. Carpetto (2008) notes that studies have shown that changes frequently occur in the interval between the time clients make an appointment to see a counsellor and the first meeting. Thus, counsellors can make use of the fact that some clients realize progress while waiting for their first scheduled appointment. The Miracle Question A typical miracle question might be formulated as follows: “Suppose that tonight while you’re sleeping a miracle happens and your problem is solved. When you wake up, what will be different about your life?” Variations of this question may need to be developed to accommodate different clients. For example, some clients may object to the religious overtones in the question and a more neutral term, such as something remarkable, could be used. The example below illustrates the process: Counsellor: Suppose when you woke up tomorrow something remarkable has happened and your problem is gone. How would you know that your problem is solved? Client: Well, for one thing, I’d be worrying less. Counsellor: What might your family see as different? Client: I’d be more willing to get involved in family activities. Counsellor: Activities? Client: Things like sports, family outings—movies and so forth. Counsellor: What else would they find different? (Note: It is important for the counsellor to use probes such as this to elicit detail. If a change can be imagined, the more possible it will seem and the more the behavioural changes to make it possible will become apparent.) Client: I think that we’d be happier. Not just because we’re doing fun things together, but we’d be arguing less about money and our other problems. Counsellor: How much of this is already happening? The above excerpt shows how quickly the counsellor can move the interview to focus on solution possibilities. When clients engage with the miracle question they begin to identify potential changes that might occur, and they often become more hopeful about their situation. As Carpetto (2008) concludes, “they are already on their way to finding solutions to their problems” (p. 181). Since the client has imagined and described some of what needs to happen to solve the problem, the counsellor’s next task is to get clients moving in the direction of the “miracle” with questions such as “What would you need to do now to begin to move toward the miracle?” or “What would it take to make the first step?” Success Tip Capitalize on the possibility of precounselling change by asking questions such as, “Since making your appointment, have you noticed that things have improved in any way, however small?” If the response is positive, sustain this change movement by helping the client identify the feelings, thoughts, and behaviour associated with it. For [email protected] Property of Bookemon, do NOT distribute 84