Karl Tomm interventive interviewing

Karl Tomm's Interventive Interviewing is an approach to therapy that emphasizes the importance of
active engagement and collaboration between the therapist and the client. This approach is based on
the idea that therapy is not just about solving problems but also about creating new possibilities and
facilitating positive change.

At the core of Interventive Interviewing is the belief that the client is the expert on their own life and
experiences. The therapist's role is to help the client to identify and build on their strengths, rather
than focusing solely on their problems or weaknesses.

These techniques are designed to help the client explore their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and
to create new perspectives and possibilities for action.

Interventive Interviewing is particularly well-suited to working with individuals, couples, and families
who are experiencing relationship problems or other interpersonal issues. By focusing on the client's
strengths and resources, the therapist can help to build their confidence and support them in making
positive changes in their relationships.

Four Major Types of Questions (Techniques)

Lineal Questions:
- explore the sequence of events or actions. They aim to gain a better understanding of the
timeline of a situation and how events unfolded.
- help uncover important information about the situation and provide a framework for further
exploration.
- Eg: What happened just before you started feeling that way? Can you describe what led up
to that event? How did you react when you first noticed the problem? What happened after
you made that decision?
Effects:
 help individuals organize their thoughts and memories chronologically. They can provide
a structure for exploring the sequence of events leading up to a problem or crisis.
 help identify cause-and-effect relationships, which can lead to a deeper understanding of
how events are connected.

Circular Questions:
- explore the relationships between different members of the family or group.
- They aim to understand how people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are interconnected.
- identify patterns in relationships and uncover underlying emotions and motivations.
- Eg: What do you think your spouse would say about your communication style? How do you
think your actions affect your children's behavior? How does your partner's behavior impact
your emotions? How do your family members react when you share your feelings with
them?
Effects:
 help individuals understand the relational dynamics within a family or group.
 They can provide insight into how each person's behavior, thoughts, and feelings
influence and are influenced by others in the group
 help individuals recognize patterns of interaction and communication, which can help
improve communication and relationships.
Strategies Questions:
- encourage individuals to think about their goals and strategies for achieving them.
- aim to help individuals clarify what they want to achieve and how they can get there
- eg: What would be the best outcome for you in this situation? What steps can you take to
achieve your desired outcome? What are your options for dealing with this problem? How
can you approach this situation in a way that is most likely to lead to a positive outcome?
- Effects:
 help individuals identify and achieve their goals.
 encourage individuals to think critically about their situation and explore alternative
solutions to problems.
 help individuals develop a plan of action that is tailored to their specific needs and goals.

Reflexive Questions:
- encourage individuals to reflect on their own thoughts and feelings.
- aim to help individuals gain insight into their own experiences and emotions.
- can help individuals become more self-aware and develop a deeper understanding of
themselves and their experiences.
- Eg: How do you feel about the way things are going in your life right now? What do you think
is the underlying reason for your behavior in this situation? What emotions do you
experience when you think about this issue? How does your past experience impact your
current behavior and feelings?
- Effects:
 help individuals gain insight into their own thoughts and feelings.
 help individuals become more self-aware and identify their own emotional reactions to
situations.
 help individuals develop a deeper understanding of their own motivations and
behaviors, which can help them make more informed decisions and improve their
relationships.

Overall, by using different types of questions in a skillful and intentional manner, Karl Tomm's
Interventive Interviewing approach can help individuals and families gain new perspectives on their
situation, develop new solutions to problems, and move towards positive change.