Asking why questions in therapy

Therapists aren't the only ones who benefit from using open-ended questions. Anyone can use open-ended questions in their daily life. The truth is, you're much more likely to get a conversation flowing and connect with people when you ask open-ended versus close-ended questions. If you are talking with someone you don't know very well, ask them open-ended questions. In fact, if you think of a question with a yes-or-no answer, see if you can change it into a more open-ended version and ask that instead.

The conversation will likely move along more easily, and you will get to know that person on a deeper level. Open-ended questions are not meant to be vague, evasive, or annoying. Rather, they are your therapist's way of getting to know you, like what makes you tick, what you think, what bugs you, what you love, and how they can best help you.

Ever wonder what your personality type means? Sign up to find out more in our Healthy Mind newsletter. Jawad Hashim M. Patient-centered communication: Basic skills. Am Fam Physician. Souders B. Therapy questions every therapist should be asking. March 18, Can you hear me now? Teaching listening skills. Psychiatr Rehabil J. Cultural humility and racial microaggressions in counseling. Where do doctors work? Where do people go camping?

Why Questions. Why do people wear shoes? Why do people drink water? Why do people go swimming? Why do kids go to school? Why do people watch TV? Why do people water flowers? Why does it rain? Why do people fly? Why do people sleep? Why do leaves fall? Why do dogs bark? Why do people run? Why does it snow? Why does a cat lick their fur? Why do people get dressed up? Why do people get a job? Why do people wear mittens? Why do people make a fire?

Why do people wear raincoats? Why do people have friends? Why do people smell flowers? Why do people talk on the phone? Why do people turn on lights? Why do people get take out food? Why do people have pets? Why does grass grow? Why do people listen to music? Why do people go on vacation? Why do people take a shower? Why do people take their shoes off?

How Questions. How do people tag someone? How do people ride a horse? How do people turn a TV on? How do people make a snowman? How do flowers grow? How do people chop wood? How do people tie their shoes? How do people wake up on time? How do people make a sandwich? How do people ride a bike?

How do people bake cookies? How do people take a picture? How do people sweep the floor? How do people dance? How do people throw a ball? How does a caterpillar become a butterfly? How do people erase a mistake? How does ice melt? How do people drive a car?

How do people start a fire? How do people make pizza? How do people mow their yard? He stared at me for a moment, dumbfounded, before burying his face in his hands with a groan about his son, who was notorious for not refuelling, having borrowed the car the night before. Just subscribe to my therapy techniques newsletter below.

Download my book on reframing, "New Ways of Seeing", when you subscribe for free email updates. Click to subscribe free now. Because in addition to our physical needs like food, water, and shelter, every one of us has a number of emotional needs:. When these needs are not adequately met, we fall prey to all kinds of emotional disorder, from depression to addiction. This is due to an often unconscious attempt to satisfy the needs somehow. When these needs are met well, we feel fulfilled and contented.

This will tell the counsellor that the client might be uncomfortable with that statement or question. A nicely summarised facts about questioning techniques. Very helpful. Sometimes when the client is not being honest body language shows it.

I find that clients who are resistant or resentful respond very well to me when I listen and not ask too many questions. The questioning techniques specifically the open questions described in this article allow me to do this and I have observed that this approach tends to help the client drop their defences and begin to open up.

They develop a sense that you are with them in a helping relationship, not someone telling them how to feel or behave. These questionning techniques allow the opportunity to guide the client to do their own problem solving.