Suggestion

Postmodern Perspectives . . .

Suggestion

I’m often slow to offer suggestion inside the therapy room because I feel it’s disempowering to a client to offer my solution options instead of helping them to grow and strengthen their own ideas. However, sometimes  I feel that the situation does require me to insert something directly into the conversation. A way to do this, that I have become comfortable with, is to present an idea from a second hand perspective. I then immediately switch to a line of questioning that prompts the client to explore that option from their own perspective, morphing it into their own. An example might be:

     In my work with other folks, I have heard of      _________________ being tried in this scenario. How might _________________ look or play out in your situation? 

This approach keeps the client empowered to put their personal narrative into the suggested solution option.