Way back in the 1970’s it was first noted that clients spontaneously used numbers from 0-10 to convey their progress. Today, scales are a central feature to Solution Focused Health Improvement.
Numbers give ‘handles’ to our conversations. Abstract concepts- clients’ best hopes and perceptions can be tapped into and discussed in detail.
It can be helpful to spend approximately 80% of the time asking about which aspects of clients’ preferred futures are already in place?
“Why are you a 4 and not lower?”
“What is it that is telling you you’re at 4?”
“What do you know about the past, the present or the future that is telling you that you are at 4?”
“What else are you pleased to know, that is saying you are at 4?”
Then we can spend the rest of the time asking:
“Where would like to get to on the scale through our talking together?”
“Where will be good enough?”
“How will you know when you have moved up one point?”.
Through scales, clients discover what they are already doing to help themselves and how they will recognize more progress.
Numbers talk, they say: things can get better.
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