Circular Questions

1. Problem Definitional Questions Attempt to tie these questions to specific descriptions of behaviours which are deemed to be problematic.
A. Present: ( )hat is the problem in the famil' now* ( )hat concerns bring 'ou into therap' now* ( )hat is the main concern of the famil' now* ( )hat problems do the other children have* ( %or children: )hat changes would 'ou li+e in 'our famil'* ( &ow is this different than before* ( &as this alwa's been true* ( )ho agrees with 'ou that this is the problem* ( )hat is 'our e!planation for this* ( )hat des this behaviour mean to 'ou* ( )hat was the problem in the famil' then* ( &ow is that different from now* ( )ho agrees with Dad that this was the ma,or concern* ( )hat is 'our e!planation for that* ( )hat do 'ou believe was the significance of her decision to move out at that time* ( )hat would be the problem in the famil' if things were to continue as the' are* ( &ow would that be different than it is now* ( Do 'ou agree- .name/* ( 0f this were to happen- how would 'ou e!plain it* ( )hat purpose would that serve*

1. Difference 2. Agreement/Disagreement 3. !planation/"eaning #. Past: 1. Difference 2. Agreement/Disagreement 3. !planation/"eaning $. %uture/&'pothetical: 1. Difference 2. Agreement/Disagreement 3. !planation/"eaning

2. Sequence of Interaction Questions %ocus on interactional behaviours

General examples A. Present: ( )ho does what when* ( 1hen what happens* ( )hat ne!t* ( )here is she or he when this happens* ( )hat does he or she do* ( 1hen what do the' do* ( )ho notices first* ( &ow does he respond* ( )hen she or he does not do that 2problem definition3- what happens* 1. Difference: ( &as it alwa's been this wa'* 2. Agreement/Disagreement ( )ho agrees with 'ou that this is how it happens* 3. !planation/"eaning ( )hat is 'our e!planation for this* ( )hat does this mean to 'ou* #. Past ( )ho did what then* ( )hat solutions were tried* 1. Difference* ( &ow was it different* ( )hen was it different* ( )hat else was different then* ( &ow does that differ from how it is now* ( )as it more or less then than it is now* 2. Agreement/Disagreement ( )ho agrees with 'ou* 3. !planation/"eaning ( &ow would 'ou e!plain this change* ( )hat does this change 2or lac+ or change3 mean to 'ou* $. %uture/&'pothetical ( )hat would 'ou/he/she do differentl' if she or he did 2not3 do this* 1. Difference ( &ow would it be different if she or he were to do this* 2. Agreement/Disagreement ( )ho would agree with 'ou that Specific Examples ( As Daughter: )hen "om tries to get 4ister to eat 2to solve or prevent the presenting problem3 and she refuses- what does Dad do* 1hen what does "on do* )hat does #rother do* And what does 4ister do* 1hen what happens* ( )hen 'our mom and brother are fighting- what does 'our dad do* ( Does Dad get involved in that fight or sta' out of it* Describe what happens. ( )hen Dad doesn5t get involved in their fights- what happens* &ow does 'our mom react when 'our dad doesn5t get involved and fight with 'our brother*

( &as brother alwa's behaved in this manner* ( )ho agrees with 'ou that "other 'ells at Dad ever' time he stomps out of the house* ( &ow do 'ou e!plain Dad5s tendenc' to leave home often* ( )hat does Dad5s behaviour mean to 'ou* ( )hat did Dad do on those da's when #rother used to push "other around* ( &ow was this behaviour different* Describe what he used to do* ( )hen did he do this* &ow often* ( )hen did he change* ( &ow did Dad respond to the earlier situation* 1hen what happened* ( &ow does that differ from how he responds now* ( )ho agrees with "om that Dad is more involved in the fights now* ( &ow do 'ou e!plain this recent involvement* ( )hat does it mean to 'ou that da' after da'- 'ear after 'earthings between the two of 'ou have not changed*

( )hat do 'ou thin+ "om would do if Dad were to ignore #rother* ( &ow would 'our parents5 relationship be different if 'our mom were to return to school* ( Do 'ou thin+ 'our mom would agree that the' would

this is probabl' what would happen* 3. !planation/"eaning ( 1ell me wh' 'ou thin+ this would happen* ( &ow do 'ou thin+ 'our wife would e!plain it* ( )hat would this mean to 'ou/them*

probabl' get a divorce if she were to return to school* ( Dad- e!plain to me wh' 'ou thin+ 'our daughter and wife both agree that a divorce is li+el' should 'our wife return to school* ( )hat would a divorce between 'our parents mean to 'ou*

3. Comparison / Classification Questions

General examples A. Present: ( )ho is closest to whom* ( )ho is most li+e whom* ( )ho gets angr' most* ( )ho acts most upset when 2the problem3 occurs* ( )ho feels most helpless when 2the problem3 occurs* ( )ho is most involved in the situation* ( 1hen who* 26an+ order3 ( )ho helps the 2so called3 problem child the most* ( )ho is most apt to do what another member of the famil' does* ( )ho generall' sides with whom* ( )ho generall' argues with whom the most* ( )ho has the most fun with whom* ( )ho most understands a certain member of the famil'* ( )ho spends most time with who else* ( )ho else feels this wa'* ( )ho else in the famil' prefers this* 1. Difference: ( &ow do the' differ* ( &ow is this different than that* ( &ow does 'our famil' differ from other families* ( &ow does this famil' differ from 'our/his/her famil' of origin* ( &as this alwa's been true* ( )as it ever different* Specific Examples ( 1o whom does Dad show most affection 7 "om or Daughter* ( )ho is most li+e "om of 'our seven children* 1hen who* ( )ho acts most upset when she seems uncooperative* ( )ho is most convinced that something is wrong with his behaviour* )ho ne!t* ( And who is least convinced that something is wrong* ( )ho is the first to help 'ou when 'ou are having trouble with 'our homewor+* ( )ho spends the most time helping 'ou with 'our homewor+* )ho spends the least amount of time with 'ou* ( $lassif' the various members of the famil' in reference to their tendenc' to +eep their rooms neat. ( 0f mother beings to cr' during the session- 'ou ma' state: "other seems unhapp'. )ho is most able to comfort her when she is sad 7 'our dad- 'our grandmothers- 'our sister- or 'ou* 21hen who*3 ( )ho is more attached to "om 7 'ou brother or 'our sister* ( Do 'ou- or does 'our husband- communicate best with the children* ( 0s 'our parents5 intimate life better or worse latel'* ( &ave 'ou felt more li+e a wife or a daughter in the past month*

( &ow does his behaviour bother 'ou differentl' than it bothers "om* ( &ow is "om5s discipline different than Dad5s* ( 0s 'our famil' as close as other families that 'ou +now* ( )ould 'ou consider 'our parents5 marriage to be happier than most* ( Do the children fight more than most siblings- less- or are the' about average* ( &ow close is he to the children compared to how close 'our dad was to 'ou when 'ou were growing up* ( &ow do 'ou thin+ 'ou and 'our spouse5s relationship differs from that of 'our parents* ( &ow are 'ou raising the children differentl' than how 'our parents raised 'ou* ( )ho disagrees with Dad the most* ( )ho do 'ou thin+ would agree with 'ou that Dad is closest to 4ister* ( )ho in the famil' agrees with 'ou that "om is closest to brother* ( 1o Dad: Do 'ou agree with 'our daughter that 'our son is closer to 'our wife when 'ou and she quarrel*

2. Agreement/Disagreement ( )ho agrees with whom about this* ( )ho else believes this is true* ( )hich set of grandparents would be most apt to agree*

3. !planation/"eaning ( )hat is 'our e!planation for this* ( !plain to me the meaning of this. ( &ave 'ou thought about wh' this occurs* )hat hunches have 'ou come up with* ( &ow does 2the outsider3 e!plain this* ( )hat does this mean to him/her* #. Past ( )ho was closest to whom before this happened*

( )hat leads 'ou to believe that Dad and Daughter are closest in the famil'* ( )hat do 'ou thin+ is the significance of their 2or 'our3 closeness* ( )hat is 'our e!planation for this difference 2or agreement3* ( )hat is 'our reason for his e!treme disli+e of school* ( &ow does the teacher e!plain this behaviour* ( )hat does marriage mean to 'our spouse* ( &ow has she or he showed 'ou that this is so* ( #efore #rother left home- who was closest to Dad* ( )as 'our "om more on 'our side in the past than she is now* ( )ho was most pleased with 'our former therap'* )ho ne!t* ( )ho argued the most with #rother before he went to ,ail* ( &as she alwa's demonstrated her sadness this wa' in the famil'* ( &ow were "om and Dad closer before 'ou moved out* ( Do 'ou agree with "om that the' got along better before 'ou moved* ( &ow do 'ou e!plain the distance 'ou both e!perienced at that time* ( )hat did he mean when he told 'ou that he would never leave 'ou again* ( )ho will be closest to "om when all of 'ou children have grown up and left home* ( 0f the girls were no longer at home- would things be better or worse for 'ou and 'our husband* 0f the girls were no longer at home- would things be better or worse for 'ou and 'our husband* ( After 'our wife5s 2imminent3 death- who will ta+e care of 'our 2handicapped3 daughter* ( 0f one of 'our children had to sta' home after high school graduation to ta+e care of 'our parents- who would be the first to volunteer* )ho would be the best for 'our mom* %or 'our dad* ( )ho would act the most upset if Dad were to come home drun+ 7 "om or Daughter* ( )ho would show the most relief if Dad were to quit drin+ing* ( )hat would 'ou do differentl' if "om and Dad got along* ( &ow would "om and Dad5s relationship be different if 'ou were to leave home*

1. Difference* ( &as this alwa's been true* ( &ow was it different then* 2. Agreement/Disagreement ( Do 'ou agree with her that it was different* 3. !planation/"eaning ( )hat was 'our e!planation for that* ( )hat do 'ou thin+ she or he meant when she or he did/said that* $. %uture/&'pothetical ( )ho will be closes then* ( )ho would show the most anger if 88* ( )hat would happen between the two of 'ou if this were to happen* ( )ho would be the best companion for whom* ( )ho would seem the most helpful* ( )ould would act the most upset if this were to happen* ( )ho would show the most relief if this were to happen*

1. Difference ( &ow would that be different than it is now* ( &ow would their relationship be different if 888* 2. Agreement/Disagreement

( )ho agrees with her that if this were to happen the'5d be closer* ( 0f 2teacher- 9randmother- school counsellor- etc3 were here- with whom would she agree* 3. !planation/"eaning ( )hat is 'our e!planation for this* ( )hat is 'our reason for the li+elihood that this would 2not3 happen should that occur* ( )hat purpose would that serve*

( )ho agrees with Dad that 4on would improve if "om and Dad got along better* ( Do 'ou agree with 'our daughter that 'ou and 'our husband would get a divorce if she were to leave home* ( 0f 'our teacher were her- what would she sa'* ( &ow do 'ou e!plain 'our Dad5s guess that if the' were to go on a trip- 'ou three children would get along fine* ( !plain wh' 'ou thin+ the' would not get a divorce if 'ou left. ( &e ,ust stated that he should run awa'. )hat purpose do 'ou thin+ that would serve*

4. Interventive Questions
General examples A. Present: ( )hat :fun; things do 'ou usuall' do together as a famil'* ( &ow much time alone do 'ou t'picall' spend together doing something en,o'able* ( &ow often do 'ou got out together< alone< as a couple* ( &ow much time do 'ou to spend together alone* ( &ow is she or he going to learn to 888* ( %rom whom did son/daughter learn to 2reframe behaviour or intent3* ( )hat would be different in 'our famil' if 0 told 'ou that change would be ris+' now 2Parado!3 1. Difference: 2. Agreement/Disagreement 3. !planation/"eaning #. Past ( &ow did 'our parents do that in the past* ( )hat do 'ou thin+ was most effective* ( Did that wor+* ( )hat did 'our famil' do the last time this happened* &ow did that help* ( )hen did she or he first ta+e on the ,ob of caring for her or his mom/dad/siblings in this wa'* 26eframe3 1. Difference* 2. Agreement/Disagreement 3. !planation/"eaning $. %uture/&'pothetical ( )hat does she or he need to do to prepare for this* ( )ho will be the most prepared when this happens* ( &ow will each member help the famil' when this happens* ( )hat would happen if 888* ( )hat do 'ou thin+ would be the most effective wa' to resolve this problem* ( 0f she or he were to do help- how would she do it* )ould she succeed* Specific Examples ( As+ each of the children: )hat5s something fun that 'ou did with 'our famil' this wee+* ( &ave 'ou had some special time alone with 'our dad latel'* )hat did 'ou do* ( Did 'our mom and dad get to go out together- ,ust the two of them* ( )hat do 'ou li+e to do when 'our fol+s go out on a date* ( &ow do 'ou thin+ =ames will learn to do his homewor+ on his own* 2Do 'ou agree =ames*3 ( &ow do 'ou thin+ >aren will best learn to share her feelings* 21hat5s one possibilit'- an' other ideas* )hich do 'ou thin+ would be most helpful*3 ( %rom whom did Daughter learn to act so courageous and persistent* ( 0n what other wa's does he show 'ou that he5s concerned about the two of 'ou* ( &ow do 'ou thin+ 'our mom would respond if 0 told her that the famil' is not read' for 'ou to change- and that the' need 'ou to sta' at home from wor+ and school in order to protect them as the' grow older* ( &ow did 'our parents discipline 'ou in the past* )hat do 'ou thin+ was most helpful* )hat have the' done with =ames when he misbehaves* Did that wor+* 1he last time he ran awa'- what did 'our mom do* )hat did 'our dad do* )hat do 'ou thin+ help =ames the most then* ( )hen did $arol ta+e on the responsibilit' of +eeping 'our brothers out of trouble b' monopoli?ing all of 'our parents5 time and attention*

( )hat do 'ou thin+ "other needs to do to prepare for the time =ames leaves home* ( )hat does =ames need to do* ( )hen mother goes to the hospital- how are each of 'ou going to help in the home* &ow could Dad help the best* &ow could =ames help* ( )hat would happen if the' grounded him from the 1@ ever' time he sta'ed out past his curfew* ( Do 'ou thin+ she would be more willing to share her feelings if 'ou were to: 2a3 as+ her questions about her da'2b3 share 'our feelings with her- 2c3 if she were to see 'ou and 'our wife share 'our feelings with each other*

( 0f "om were to tr' and teach Daughter not to whine and complain- how would she do it* Do 'ou thin+ that would wor+* &ow would Dad tr' to teach her* 1. Difference 2. Agreement/Disagreement 3. !planation/"eaning

Adapted from: Aelson- 1. 4.- %leuridas- $.- 6osenthal- D. ". 21BCD3. 1he evolution of circular questions: 1raining famil' therapists. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy- 12223- 113E12F.