Question types
Questions like “Where do you live?” or “Have you been to Groningen before?” are examples of this type of question that usually leads to short, focused answers.
What is a closed question?
A skill that organizes and condenses what the client has said, highlighting core themes while sometimes preserving important wording from the client.
What is summarizing?
Short responses like “mm-hm”, “I see”, or nodding that encourage the client to continue.
What are minimal encouragers?
This type of question usually begins with what, how, or tell me about…
What is an open question?
In the first meeting, therapists usually explain this principle so clients understand that their information will be protected.
What is confidentiality?
This core therapeutic attitude involves avoiding criticism, blame, or moral evaluation of the client’s experiences.
What is remaining non-judgmental?
An example:
Client: "My partner always forgets to flush the toilet."
Therapist: "It must be annoying then, right?"
What is a leading/ suggestive question?
An example of such questions is: "Did you talk to your partner and how did it go?"
What is a double question?
A therapist statement that guides the client to the next topic.
What is signposting?
Client: “I cannot make any mistakes on this project.”
Therapist: “Why are you so afraid of disappointing people?”
This communication mistake occurs when the therapist treats an interpretation as if it were already established fact.
What is making an assumption?
Questions that are asked mainly out of curiosity rather than therapeutic relevance.
What is a fishing question?
An exmaple:
Client: “Things have just been terrible lately.”
Therapist: "What exactly has been happening?"
What is concretizing?
A therapeutic response that depends on accurately recognizing and matching the tone and intensity of a client’s emotional experience.
What is reflecting feelings?
An example:
Therapist: “How have things been going at work… good?”
What is an open question turned closed?
This technique invites the client to briefly reflect on how they experienced the session.
What is a meta-discussion/ session feedback?
This therapeutic skill has four main functions: encouraging the client to continue, checking understanding, structuring the conversation, and selecting key information.
What is paraphrasing?
An example:
Therapist: "You realize that avoiding your partner won’t solve the problem, right?"
What is a statement disguised as a question?