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Understanding and addressing client issues effectively requires thorough exploration. The Three-T (Time, Trigger, Trajectory) and Workability Questions provide a structured framework for therapists to delve deeper into the client's experiences and coping strategies.
Here’s a brief guide on how to use these questions in session:
Time
When did this start? Understanding the onset of the problem can provide insights into its roots and any initial triggers.
How often does it happen? Identifying the frequency helps in assessing the severity and impact on daily life.
Does it happen at a particular time? Pinpointing specific times can reveal patterns or related events.
What happens just before the problem? Immediately after the problem? Recognizing the antecedents and consequences helps in understanding the context and potential triggers.
How long does it last when it is present? Duration is key to understanding the problem's persistence and the client's tolerance levels.
Is it here all the time or is it episodic? Differentiating between constant and episodic issues aids in tailoring interventions appropriately.
Trigger
What do you think is causing the problem? The client's perception of the cause can highlight areas for further exploration and potential misconceptions.
Is there anything that, or anyone who, seems to set it off? Identifying specific triggers helps in creating targeted strategies for avoidance or management.
Trajectory
What has this problem been like over time? Exploring history provides context and highlights any long-term patterns or changes.
Have there been times when it was less of a concern? More of a concern? Understanding fluctuations can indicate factors that ameliorate or exacerbate the issue.
Has it been getting better or worse over time? How about recently? Recent changes can indicate new influences or the effectiveness of current strategies.
Workability Questions
What have you tried to cope with this problem? Knowing past and present strategies helps in assessing their effectiveness and the client's resourcefulness.
How have these strategies worked over time? Evaluating long-term effectiveness aids in determining which strategies to continue or modify.
Are you getting the kind of results you want? This question addresses client satisfaction and sets the stage for goal setting.
When you use this strategy, are you getting some accidental negative results in other areas? Identifying unintended consequences ensures a holistic approach to problem-solving and prevents new issues from arising.
Application in Session
In asking these questions, you are looking for the underlying contexts or themes to help give you a clue as to what direction they might need to focus on and what skills they might need to develop in order to become “unstuck” from the personal event. Which process would be most useful to address given this information?
As you ask these questions, be sure to validate that they have been working very hard to make their lives better. They have been doing the best that they can, with the knowledge and the skills that they have.
Also – consider using the following question at some point: What kind of life would you have if this problem did not exist? or What is the smallest thing you could change in the next week that would make a difference?. Pay special attention to how they answer this question since what they value is often implied in their answer along with little actions that are within their reach.
Once you have done this, work with the client to try and narrow the broader sense and all the related details down into a simple title. Have them describe it as a book title, a music recording, or a movie title. We need to do this both to help label the experience as well as to be able to qualify their experience of it.
Therapists can use these questions to guide sessions, ensuring a comprehensive exploration of the client's issues. By systematically addressing Time, Trigger, Trajectory, and Workability, therapists can develop a nuanced understanding of the problem and collaboratively create effective intervention plans.
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