The miracle question opens the door to the client’s possibilities for therapy. It does this by simply asking them to consider what an alternate reality might look like – one in which things are different, better, and problems are resolved (Strong & Pyle, 2009).
Full Answer
What is the miracle question?
The theory focuses not on the past, but on what the client wants to achieve today. By making conscious all the ways the client is creating their ideal future and encouraging forward progress, clinicians point clients toward their goals rather than the problems that drove them to therapy. The Miracle Question fits perfectly with this model.
What is the miracle question in solution focused therapy?
While the miracle question is a powerful technique in Solution-Focused Therapy and elsewhere, there are other helpful approaches as well. It can be helpful to reflect upon exceptions to the present problems in the client’s life.
How to respond to the miracle question during marriage therapy?
The following statements are two unique examples of responses to the miracle question given by a couple during marriage therapy, having sought help for relationship difficulties (Yu, 2019, p. 1931): “We would spend more time with each other like we used to.” “My wife would have an interest in me again like when we first started dating.”
Should you read the miracle question aloud?
If you’re by yourself, you might want to go back and read through the miracle question again. This time read it aloud. Think of a small problem of your own and freely insert a few references to it.
What does the miracle question do?
The miracle question is a popular intervention in Solution-Focused Therapy. It asks the client to imagine and discuss a possible world where problems are removed and issues addressed (Strong & Pyle, 2009). The question may take various forms, such as asking the client, “Assume your problem has been solved.
What are examples of miracle question?
"Suppose tonight, while you slept, a miracle occurred. When you awake tomorrow, what would be some of the things you would notice that would tell you life had suddenly gotten better?"
When should you use the miracle question?
1. When would a clinician use the Miracle Question? The Miracle Question is a goal setting question that is useful when a client simply does not know what a preferred future would look like.
What therapy approach uses the miracle question?
The Miracle Question is instant therapy. The Miracle Question focuses your mind on exactly how to achieve what you want. Focusing on your future goals is the essence of Solution Focused Therapy. Solution focused therapy ignores what is past, what has happened, the history of the problem.
Where does the miracle question come from?
Developed in the 1970s by Insoo Kim Berg and Steven de Shazer, the miracle question has become a very popular therapy intervention. It's standard fare for solution-focused therapists and has been written about extensively.
What is the miracle wand question?
There are different versions of the Magic Wand Question, but it essentially asks: “Suppose tonight, while you slept, all your problems were solved. When you awake tomorrow, what would be some of the things you would notice that would tell you life had suddenly gotten better?”
Why is the miracle question effective?
When therapists ask a miracle question, they build a good story line and lead the clients to envision how different their life would be if a miracle happened over night. Clients' answers to the miracle question usually bring insights for themselves and help define the goals of therapy.
What is the empty chair?
In the chair, you picture a person with whom you are experiencing conflict. Or, you may picture a part of yourself. Then, you speak to the empty chair. You explain your feelings, thoughts, and understanding of the situation.
What does a Gestalt therapist do?
Gestalt therapy is a form of psychotherapy that is centered on increasing a person's awareness, freedom, and self-direction. It's a form of therapy that focuses on the present moment rather than past experiences. Gestalt therapy is based on the idea that people are influenced by their present environment.
What is the miracle question in CBT?
Miracle Question: If you were to awake after a night's sleep and a miracle had occurred which made the problem disappear without you being aware that the miracle had taken place, what would you first notice when waking up? ➢ How would you act differently? ➢ How would you feel differently?
What are some CBT strategies?
Some of the techniques that are most often used with CBT include the following 9 strategies:Cognitive restructuring or reframing. ... Guided discovery. ... Exposure therapy. ... Journaling and thought records. ... Activity scheduling and behavior activation. ... Behavioral experiments. ... Relaxation and stress reduction techniques. ... Role playing.More items...•
How many sessions is SFBT?
five sessionsOn average, solution-focused brief therapy takes about five sessions, each of which need be no more than 45 minutes long. It rarely extends beyond eight sessions and often only one session is sufficient.
What are coping questions?
Coping questions ask about how clients somehow manage to keep going in spite of the adversity they face. For example, someone who is suicidal obviously has not killed himself yet. Someone living with chronic pain is enduring it somehow.
What are exception finding questions?
Examples of exception questions include:Tell me about times when you don't get angry.Tell me about times you felt the happiest.When was the last time that you feel you had a better day?Was there ever a time when you felt happy in your relationship?What was it about that day that made it a better day?More items...•
What is an example of Gestalt therapy?
For example, rather than saying, "If he didn't do that I wouldn't get so mad!" a client might be encouraged to say, "I feel mad when he does that because it makes me feel insignificant and I don't like that." The use of "I" statements is important in gestalt therapy.
What is an exception Seeking question?
'Exception questions' or questions that explore exceptions in the past remind clients of times when things were better, and this helps to inspire hope that things can be better again (Pichot, 2007; p125-126).
What is butterfly effect?
There’s a technique inside the solution-focused brief therapy, called “ the butterfly effect “. This exercise can help you see that after a small change, more changes will happen, almost in a chained way. You shouldn’t just imagine what would happen – take control and start putting effort into it.
How many sessions are needed for a brief therapy?
First of all, solution-focused brief therapies are, as the name suggests, brief; therefore, it’s carried out in approximately 10 sessions. T herapists want their patients to envision how their life would be like if their problem disappeared all of a sudden.
Is the miracle question technique good?
Athough the miracle question technique is a good starting point, there’s still a lot of work to do. After realizing that your problem has prevented you from doing what you want, set the change factors and the objectives you want to achieve.
Who should carry out the miracle question?
Only specialized therapists should carry out the miracle question technique; they’ll know how to guide the narrative of the patient and allow them to see the details they’re missing by only focusing on their problem.
What is SFT therapy?
The theory focuses not on the past, but on what the client wants to achieve today. By making conscious all the ways the client is creating their ideal future and encouraging forward progress, clinicians point clients toward their goals rather than the problems that drove them to therapy.
Why is solution focused therapy important?
But, more importantly, it helps the therapist to know exactly what the client wants from therapy... and this is what makes Solution Focused Therapy so efficient and brief.
What is the Miracle Question?
The Miracle Question is a goal setting question that is useful when a client simply does not know what a preferred future would look like. It can be used with individuals to set the course for therapy, with couples, to clarify what each person needs from each other and with families, who too often see one person as the culprit. By using the Miracle Question and asking each person what a better life would look like, it is apparent, perhaps for the first time, what others need from each other.
Why is it cool to be challenged?
It's cool because it's a relatively simple intervention that can have a powerful impact. Just take a look at the question (response #2). You're probably crafting your response already.
Who is Linda Metcalf?
Don't just listen to me, hear it from an expert. Linda Metcalf, Ph.D. is founder of the Solution Focused Institute of Fort Worth, Texas and author of ten books including The Miracle Question: Answer It and Change Your Life. Beyond writing and therapy, she speaks internationally to schools, agencies and universities. She was kind enough to share her wisdom with us today.
Why do people use miracle questions?
Using the miracle question is a wonderful way to bypass the usual worries about how things could change (which can be tackled later in the therapy) and switch to a motivational focus on what your client really wants changed. Sometimes people need a little coaxing to enter into the spirit of miracle questioning.
What is the miracle question?
The miracle question basically asks people to make believe, however fantastical it may be in their particular circumstances, that their life has already dramatically changed for the better.
Why do we want people to feel the answer to the miracle question?
We want people to feel the answer to the miracle question – to experience it and not just to think about it. This helps to make the imagined future more real to them, and not just a theoretical construct.
Is the Miracle Question a good place to start?
I use the Miracle Question a lot with my clients. It is fascinating to watch them as their brain 'goes on a search'.......It is indeed a good place to start. I remember a client I had once, who for a number of reasons,
Is Uncommon Knowledge Scripts successful?
I have purchased and use Uncommon Knowledge Scripts and except for a few language (cultural tweeks) i find them very successful! I love the Relationship and Anxiety focused pieces. Thank you Mark and Company!
Is therapeutic technique appropriate?
No therapeutic technique is appropriate in all circumstances. And when we do choose to use any particular technique we should be able to adapt it to fit the character and circumstances of individual clients.
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What is the miracle question?
Using this question can help you identify to what extent your condition is impacting and has impacted your life and how you live your life, from moment to moment, day in and day out.
Why is it important to envision a day free of the shackles of illness?
More importantly, envisioning a day free of the shackles of your illness will illuminate the many ways your life will improve through the recovery process. This is particularly important when you are feeling beaten down, defeated, and wondering why bother.
What is miracle question?
Technically, the miracle question is a projective or generative assessment tool and hypnotic induction strategy. This is because it asks clients to project themselves into the future and generate information or scenarios straight from their imaginations.
What is the Tarantallegra spell?
In case you can’t recall, the Tarantallegra spell forces one’s opponent to dance. I don’t know long it took the fictional Harry Potter to learn the fictional Tarantallegra spell, but I’m certain that even in the fictional world created by J. K. Rowling it wasn’t during his first year at Hogwarts.
When was the miracle question invented?
Developed in the 1970s by Insoo Kim Berg and Steven de Shazer, the miracle question has become a very popular therapy intervention. It’s standard fare for solution-focused therapists and has been written about extensively. In 2004, Linda Metcalf wrote a whole book about it and in 2010 Ryan Howes of Psychology Today declared it ...
Who influenced Berg and de Shazer?
We should recall that Berg and de Shazer were strongly influenced by the renowned hypnotherapist, Milton Erickson. This is one reason why, when done well, the miracle question resembles a hypnotic induction.
Who is Rich Watts?
Rich is President of the North American Society for Adlerian Psychology. My inner Rich Watts voice is noticing that the miracle question looks a lot like “The Question,” an intervention used and written about by Alfred Adler in the early 1900s.