THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2022.

TOPIC: BASIC COUNSELLING SKILLS: EFFECTIVE QUESTIONING.

Scripture Reference: Mark 8:1-21.

EXPOSITION:

François-Marie d’Arouet (1694-1778), better known as Voltair said “Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers”. In counselling, the questions therapists ask can be more important than the answers they obtain. This is because, the right questions often pave way for the right answers they need. The ability to ask the right question is an important skill that not only counsellors should be equipped with but one that every professional would need.

The perfect Counsellor, Jesus Christ was very skilful in effective questioning skills. Whether in the public gathering, a confrontation with His enemies, or a private conversation with His closest friends, He consistently used questions to illicit change and results. In the entire chapter 8 of Mark’s gospel, Jesus Christ used several questions to convey His thoughts: gathering information, making statements, communicating a passion, seeking feedbacks, encouraging personal application and soul piercing questions among others.

Questions during counselling help to open up new areas for discussion. They can assist to pinpoint an issue and they also assist to clarify information that at first may seem ambiguous to the counsellor. The following could be helpful in client centred therapy:

Open Questions: these are questions that cannot be answered in a few words, they encourage the client to speak and offer an opportunity for counsellors to gather more information about the clients and their concerns, E.g. Could you tell me about what you said happened that day?

Closed Questions: these are questions that can be answered with minimal response like “yes” or “no”. They can help the counsellor to focus on the client or gain very specific information such as “How many loaves do you have?”

While questioning technique can be used positively to draw out and clarify issues relevant to the counselling session; there are however some dangers in using it. When questioning skills are not used well, they turn to have negative impacts on the counselling session. The wrong types of questions at the wrong time in the hands of unskilled counsellor can cause unnecessary discomfort and confusion to the client (counselee or one receiving counselling).

Prayer Guide: Lord Jesus, please equip me with effective questioning skills. Amen.

Memory Verse For This Week: Proverbs 11:14 – “Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.”