1. Questions: Opening Communication
CHAPTER 4
Questions:
Opening Communication

2. Microskills Hierarchy
Open and closed questions
Attending behavior
Ethics and multicultural competence

3. Open Questions Encourage others to talk Provide maximum information
What, how, or could
Helpee in charge

4. Closed Questions Answered in few words (yes, no) Focus interview
Is, are, do
Helper in charge

5. Eight Issues Around Questions
Help begin interview
Elaborate and enrich helpee’s story
Bring out specifics
Critical to assessment
First word of open ? determines what comes next
Potential Problems
May promote distrust
Used to search for positive assets

6. Questions help begin interview
What would you like to talk about today?
How have things been going?
Last week we talked about How did that work out?

7. Help elaborate story How did you feel when that happened?
What might we have missed so far?
What else comes to mind?

8. Bring out specifics Could you give me a specific example?
What do you mean by . . .?

9. Critical in assessment
Who
What
When
Where
How
Why

10. Potential problems Bombarding/grilling
Multiple questions (several at one time)
Questions as statements (Don’t you think . . )
Cultural differences – to some questions are offensive
Why questions – defensive
Control – person asking is in control

11. In cross-cultural situations may promote distrust
If cultural differences between helper and helpee, helpee may distrust so many questions, feel grilled, and feel “stupid” if an answer is not forthcoming

12. Search for positive assets
Listen to helpee for strengths and positives
Share feedback

13. Personal strength What do yo do well or others say you do well?
What are some things you’ve been proud of in the past? Now?

14. Cultural/Gender/Family Strength
Can you tell me about a friend of your own gender (race/ethnicity/religion) that dealt with adversity in a way that you admire?
What specifically did that person do?

15. Anticipating Responses
What – bring out facts of situation
How – leads to feelings
Why – introspection; search for reasons (and if I knew the answer to why I wouldn’t be here)
Could – most open of all; can be refused