The Magic of Questions

by Sarah Johansson, LMSW

     Many of us entered this field to help others. A story I have heard several iterations of is how – long before we entered the profession – we became the go-to person for advice in our circles. People would confide in us and ask our advice. When we find ourselves in our internships or first jobs out of grad school, it’s easy to fall back into that role. Our code of ethics implores us to prioritize a client’s right to self-determination. To put this into practice, we want to move away from giving advice and instead help clients devise their own solutions. But how do we do that? The magic of questions. Hear me out! When a client shares a dilemma, ideas probably pop into your head. Put a pin in them. They are important, and you will use them to inform your steps. 

     Some initial questions to consider after validating the client’s experience of said dilemma:

• What are some ideas you’ve thought of to overcome this?
• What are some ideas others have offered you?

     Some clients may draw a blank, or you might have a useful idea in addition to theirs from your pinned list. Look at the idea and try to turn it into a question to see if it resonates for the client as something they would want to pursue. For example, you may think utilizing social supports could help the client overcome the dilemma, so you may ask:

• I have some thoughts. Is it okay if I share?
• Who do you think could be helpful in supporting you through this?
• If you were to get their support, what would be helpful for them to do to support you?
• How would you want to ask them for that support?

     In a setting where we’re primarily providing resources and referrals, we can still use the magic of questions. Present the clients with the resources or referrals you are aware of and then still pose questions:

• Which of these options sound like a good fit for you?
• Have you heard about other resources or programs that you think would be useful for you?
• Do we want to take a moment to think through the pros and cons of these options before deciding what would be your next step?

     Using questions puts the client in the driver’s seat and empowers them to come up with a solution that feels right for them. It allows us to be culturally sensitive and not reinforce the power discrepancy present in the relationship. For a new social worker, it also takes some pressure off having to know. There is no universe in which a social worker knows the answer to all dilemmas. Being a support in the client’s pursuit of a solution, rather than giving advice, not only empowers the client but also decreases overwhelm for the social worker.

Sarah Johansson, LMSW, graduated with her MSW from Fordham University GSS. She is a multisystemic therapy supervisor and psychotherapist in New York City. Sarah is passionate about social justice and anti-racism in social work practice.