Solution-focused Therapy Solution Techniques - Exception Questions

Question 1

How are exception questions used?

Answer 1

They can be used to begin the process of looking for solutions to problems.

Question 2

Do problems occur all of the time?

Answer 2

No. One of the principles of solution-focused therapy is that problems do not occur all of the time.; there must be some instances, or exceptions, when the problem is not occurring, is less severe, or less intrusive than expected.

Question 3

What are exceptions?

Answer 3

Exceptions are those past experiences in a clients life when it would be reasonable to have expected the problem to occur, but somehow it didn’t.

Question 4

May there be times when clients life is similar to that of their preferred or ideal future that they thought of during the miracle question?

Answer 4

Yes

Question 5

What are some examples of exception questions / statements?

Answer 5

1. Are there any times when the problem is less likely to occur or be less severe?
2. Can you think of a time when you expected the problem to occur but it didn’t?
3. Are there any people who seem to make it easier?
4. Are there places or times when the problem is not as bad?
   5.Tell me about the times when you don’t get angry?
5. When do you and your father get on well without arguing?
6. In what situations do you have control of your patience?
7. Tell me about times when you have felt happy?
8. Can you think of a time when the problem has not been present?

Question 6

How to exception questions help?

Answer 6

• they provide the client with an opportunity to identify times when things have been different.
• they help the client to ‘deconstruct’ their problem-saturated view that the problems are happening and/or severely impactful at all times.
• they can help the counsellor and client recognise there are already examples of times when they have overcome or avoided the problem in the past , so as to highlight the clients strengths and successes in managing their lives in the past.
• can help the client better understand some appropriate changes to make to their lives to help achieve their preferred future.

Question 7

What does the counsellor do when an exception has been identified?

Answer 7

The client uses different questions to help the client learn more about the context of the exception and about their behaviours in response to this context.

Question 8

Some examples of appropriate questions to ask after an exception has been discovered.

Answer 8

1. What did you do differently?
2. What is your guess about why you didn’t fight?
3. What were you doing at the time when you were able to beat the problem?
4. Can you describe your relationship with your partner at the time when the problem wasn’t present?
5. What’s your main experience when this problem is not around?
6. What strategies do you know that you have called upon in the past and that you can also use now?
7. How did you restrict the problem’s influence on these occasions?

Question 9

How do these investigative questions help the client?

Answer 9

These investigative questions help clients to better understand exceptions and the strengths and resources they can draw upon. Clients can then use this information to move towards their preferred future.

Question 10

Do the techniques of the miracle question and exception question flow together?

Answer 10

Yes