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Good lord, how’d he survive that?
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Good lord, how’d he survive that?
Team Lead Operations
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Mirror the client, especially in that first session. If they are sitting cross legged, ankles crossed, hand rested on chin, etc. Nothing blatantly obvious or copying, but enough to show “I am here with you.”
Ask always open ended. The conversation dead ends if we ask only Yes or No questions. If they’re annoyed or feeling unavailable at the moment, “Tell me what’s on your mind”, “What’s brings you in today?” If there’s silence, let there be silence. Sometimes it’s the only stillness they’ve had
Thanks! Open questions are always good because they let the client express themselves freely.
I often ask about clients' backgrounds, family dynamics, current stressors, and coping mechanisms. It is a good starting point.
I ask clients “Why now?” What happened or didn’t happen that has them here with me today instead of a year ago? If they have been in therapy before, what did they like and not like? What helped and didn’t help? I also remind them that therapy is for THEM - not for me, their family, or anyone else. I will give them tools and help them get to where they want to be. I ask them who is important in their world and why and to tell me about the relationship- is it good or need improvement? I always ask more on this. I Also ask about spiritual health - including meditation practices. And I make sure I’m authentic with them - I.e. “That’s a great daily routine, I wish I was better about meditating daily!”
"What are some of your goals for our work together?" This question will help you understand what the client hopes to achieve from their sessions and can help guide treatment planning.
"What has worked for you in the past when facing similar challenges?" This question helps you understand the client's coping strategies and can help identify potential strengths that the client can build upon.
"What support do you have in your life?" This question helps us in understand the client's social support system and can identify potential resources or strengths that can be utilized in treatment.
"How are you feeling about everything?" This question is very simple but it can help you assess the client's emotional state and understand how their situation is affecting their mental health.
How can I best support you? This question empowers the client to identify their own needs and preferences, and helps the social worker to tailor their interventions to the client's unique situation.