Psychological counselors often meet visitors who can't help but come to talk. They often respond to the counselor's question without thinking: "I don't know." If this is not handled properly, the interview will be deadlocked. SFBT has the following suggestions for consultants:
1, stay calm, don't overreact, and don't take it as a negative motivation or resistance, that is, take it as a generalization.
The counselor can wait, look at the visitor with a puzzled expression, or say to the client, "You can guess if you like!" " Or "take your time, don't worry"
The visitor still says "I don't know"
The counselor can check with him euphemistically first: "Are you thinking about my problem?" If the answer is "No", for some visitors, it can be assumed that the question leads:
I know, this is a difficult question (stop), so if you really knew, what would you say? (curious)
3. leverage? Psychological counselors can also invite visitors to explain their feelings through other people's views.
What would your best friend (lover) say?
For some visitors, such as teenagers and children, direct acceptance and response may be another option: for example, "Oh, I see, this is a secret!
Or the way I ask this question is not very appropriate. What do you think is more appropriate for me to ask this question?
It is very important for involuntary visitors to have a period of silence. Maybe the visitors really feel helpless about their situation and want to give up the whole future.
6. If the counselor finds that the visitor's expression is depressed and melancholy, it will be a better choice to ask "responsive questions". "How did you get through it?"
7. Psychological counselors can also try to think that it is a positive feature for visitors to answer "I don't know" or "silence", which shows the straightforward and resolute character of visitors. You can respond with direct praise or bring about a change in the relationship between the two.