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Unit 8. Interviewing Skills and Circular Questioning in Assessment. A Case Study

1. Give some examples of circular questions that you can ask a couple during assessment.

Examples of circular questions that can be asked during assessment are:

• What is the main concern of the family now?
• What does this behaviour mean to you?
• What was the problem at that time (that is, in the past)?
• What is your explanation for that?
• When this (a particular behaviour/event or situation), what does she do?
• Then what does he do?
• How does she respond?
• What solutions have you both tried earlier?
• Was it (a particular behaviour) more (or less) then (that is, in the past), or is it now (in the present)?

2. What are the two main difficulties the couple in the given case study is having in managing their conflict?

The couple is having difficulties in clear communication and resolving conflicts.

3. What is the relevance of therapist’s maintaining neutrality in the session?

The relevance of therapist’s maintaining neutrality in the session is that it allows them to create a safe space for their clients. This safety enables clients to open up to their therapists and discuss their problems more freely. 

4. In the case described in the Unit, in what ways did the therapist demonstrate neutrality?

In the given case study, the therapist demonstrated neutrality by not blaming one partner or the other, reflecting on the partners' own descriptions of the situation, and refraining from giving advice or taking sides.

5. How can the use of circular questions facilitate assessment process in couple or family therapy?

There are many ways in which circular questions help therapists assess relationships. These questions help therapists explore the relationships between partners and the larger family systems. They help therapists get a better sense of how the relationship works and how problems are maintained.

Therapists can use circular questions to help the couple or family discover new perspectives on their problems, identify patterns in their interactions, and recognize the impact of their behaviors on each other. 

These questions facilitate the assessment process by focusing on the interactions between family members rather than on the individuals themselves.