level ii counselling skills session eight

Asking Creative QuestionsWeek Eight

Re-Forming

Session Aims

Consider different types of questions and demonstrate effective questioning

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this session you will be able to:

1. Recognise the difference between open and closed questions

2. Focus a client’s attention on different areas of their experience using the change model and creative questions

Last Session

1. Practised paraphrasing skills

2. Practised reflecting feelings

3. Described the Change Model

Problem State

Desired State

Resources

Action

My mind wanders, I interrupt and take over the conversation. I try and fix people’s problems.

I really focus on what is being said and help my clients come up with their own solutions

Attend John’s lessons, practise the skills, use my reflective journal

Rapport, refraining, attending, paraphrasing, reflecting feelings, Change Model, Mercedes Model, questioning skills, core conditions.

Contents of this Session

Open and Closed QuestionsCreative Questions using the Change ModelDemonstration by Adam and JohnSkills practise in pairsSelf-reflectionFeedback to whole group

Open and Closed Questions

Ask Who?

Definitions

Open Questions

Invite the speaker to expand on what they have said and share more of their experience

Closed Questions

Invite a specific response, often ‘yes’ or ‘no’. They tend to shift people into their rational mind, taking them out of their emotions.

Asking Creative Questions

Creative Questions

A question helps you to find out things; but where does a person go to in their mind when you ask them a question?

Creative Questions

Example

Did you have a good holiday?

The question requires the person to remember their last holiday, sort through their holiday memories for good and bad experiences, and then make a decision about whether they had a good time or not.

Questions direct an individual’s attention to different areas of their experience

Questions and the Change Model

1. How is your depression?

2. What do you want instead?

3. What helps you feel better?

4. What would you have to do to start feeling better?

Developing the Desired State

Too many of the questions we ask develop the problem state and if we focus on a problem then the problem tends tp gets bigger.

Of course we need to acknowledge the problem, but it’s far more helpful if we use questions that develop the client’s desired state and help them to find or create resources.

Demonstration

Comfort Break

Skills Practise and Reflection

Consider criteria (4 and 6) when completing your self-reflection

Skills Practise 40 minutes

1. Work in pairs

2. Take turns being the helper and helpee

3. Take 10 minutes each

4. Helpee - talk about a small problem that’s current in your life

5. Helper – practise all your listening skills, including paraphrasing, reflecting feelings, paraphrasing and asking an appropriate amount of questions.

6. After 20 minutes complete the self-reflection worksheet

Feedback

Learning Outcomes

You are now able to:

1. Recognise the difference between open and closed questions

2. Focus a client’s attention on different areas of their experience using the change model and creative questions

Next Week

Please bring your portfolio to the class, including all your journal entries

Well done Everybody!