The article, “How to Interview for Clients’ Strengths” by Peter De Jong and Scott D. Miller detailed the idea of focusing on clients’ strengths when interviewing them. The strengths perspective focuses on strengths, no matter how discouraged the client is, or how terrible their situation, they possess strengths necessary to improve their life. The article describes solution-focused interviewing, which is collaborating with the client to formulate goals and finding solutions based on exceptions. The article listed seven characteristics of well-formed goals: 1. The goals are important to the client. 2. They are small and easy to achieve. 3. They are specific and behavioral. 4. The goals involve doing, rather than removing something (the article referred to this as “seeking …show more content…
Having the client focus on these instances empowers the client through showing them that they can control their lives and improve their situation. Also discussed was the “miracle” question, which is when a social worker asks their client, “If tonight when you are asleep a miracle happened and your problem vanishes. What will be different tomorrow so you know that the miracle has happened?” This question allows clients to visualize what would be different if their problem was solved and can assist them in formulating the goals necessary to overcome the issue. Another tool mentioned was asking scaling questions. The client rates various aspects of their life on a scale from 0-10. This exercise demonstrates to the client the achieved progress and determines the factors leading to the improvement. Coping questions can be used with clients who feel hopeless to reveal their strengths by asking them how they have coped with their circumstances. A social worker can ask their clients what’s better in their lives during later sessions to evaluate improvements. All these tools can lead to the clients feeling