英文原文
How to Use the Miracle Question in Therapy: 3 Examples
The Miracle Question is a solution-focused tool that helps visualize a future without current problems, fostering hope & clarity. By describing detailed changes post-miracle, individuals can identify actionable steps towards desired outcomes. This technique encourages a shift from problem-thinking to goal-oriented solutions, enhancing personal & therapeutic growth.
For the therapist, the intervention has the power to explore clients’ hidden resources and find solutions to their existing problems. The miracle question opens the door to the client’s possibilities for therapy. It does this by simply asking them to consider what an alternate reality might look like – one in which things are different, better, and problems are resolved.
This article explores the miracle question and how to use it in Solution-Focused Therapy with individuals and groups. The miracle question is a popular intervention in Solution-Focused Therapy. It asks the client to imagine and discuss a possible world where problems are removed and issues addressed.
The question may take various forms, such as asking the client, “Assume your problem has been solved. What is different?” Or, “Assume your problem is gone. What does this mean to you?” For the therapist, the intervention can “build a good storyline and lead the client to envision how different their life would be if a miracle happened overnight.”
The answers provided offer insights to the client while supporting the overall definition of the goals for therapy. Asking and answering the question involves “proposing and negotiating language that satisfies both therapist and client,” intending to achieve a meaningful understanding of their needs and hopes.
The focus of SFT is on “what is preferred and helpful to clients in attaining their goals.” Clients typically find SFT a helpful approach in which the therapeutic dialogue works to construct the therapeutic outcomes. The miracle question prompts and motivates negotiation between therapist and client. When introduced into the session, it typically offers a departure from the prior dialogue. The conversation then proceeds to work out the full meaning of the answer given.
The therapist must tailor the question according to the client’s experiences, language, and understanding to ensure it is appropriately understood, considered, and answered. After all, it is a big question that may not be easy to answer; it invites the client to reflect on broader issues and engage in what-if thinking.
The power of the miracle question is to bring clarity to the therapeutic process while strengthening the therapeutic alliance through the client’s presentation of their problem. Negotiation and back-and-forth dialogue are crucial to the process of posing and making sense of the miracle question.
The therapist uses the insight it provides to “bring forth clients’ ideas, goals, and possibilities” to uncover the potential outcomes of therapy. When the client considers the question, it generates new dialogue with the therapist with the miracle as a clear focus. Whether a starting point or later in the interview, it introduces (or reintroduces) further potential for growth into the conversation.
The client becomes more active and potentially more engaged in the therapeutic process, constructing and negotiating valuable meanings and insights while showing that they wish to benefit from the discussion. The power of the miracle question appears to be in its ability to lift clients out of ‘real life,’ shaking loose their constraints and imagining what could be. Crucially, it helps the client piece together a specific and elaborate vision of what their lives would be like in the absence of a problem. Along with setting goals, the purpose of the miracle question is to:
Generate a virtual vision of what life would be like if a miracle occurred.
Prepare the client for exceptions to the problem, glimpsing a world in which the problem is no longer present, either temporarily or permanently.
Create a progressive narrative where the client’s life is pictured as becoming better rather than worse.
For the therapist and client, the response to the miracle question becomes “the common ground upon which the two agree to build a new foundation.”
The following three examples explore how to use the miracle question and its impact. You can modify the following approach and wording according to the circumstances, such as individual, couple, or family therapy.
Try out the following with your clients:
This may seem like a strange question to ask, but please bear with me. Imagine going about your life as normal and heading off to sleep at the usual time.
Unknown to you, during the night, something happens – a miracle. When you wake up the following day, something exciting has happened.
The very problem that brought you to see me today is no longer there.
What would be the very first difference you would notice in your life?
Helpful follow-ups include:
How will you know the miracle has happened?
What will others (parents, partner, children, work colleagues, etc.) notice about you that makes them aware things are different or better?
What would their reaction be? What would they do?
What would you do next?
What would we see (feelings, thoughts, and behavior) if we compared a before and after picture?
Have you ever seen elements of this happen before?
The following statements are two unique examples of responses to the miracle question given by a couple during marriage therapy, having sought help for relationship difficulties:
“We would spend more time with each other like we used to.”
“My wife would have an interest in me again like when we first started dating.”
Language becomes more than a tool for understanding. The process of asking, sharing, and understanding the miracle question communicates experiences and wishes between the speaker and the listener.
It is important to remember that while initiated as a single question, the broader process of creating a vision of what life could be like may require an entire session. Furthermore, it takes skill to pose follow-up questions, yet it is worthwhile, as it involves building more detail and meaning through elaboration.
When the therapist asks the miracle question, the client considers a possible future different from the present. As this deviation from reality can seem like strange and unfamiliar territory, the following activities may help.
Dare Question worksheet uses a slightly different approach. Rather than asking what it would be like “if you woke up tomorrow and the problem had disappeared,” it asks, “What would you do if you knew you could not fail?”
Should Question worksheet is essential to understand the reasons behind what we do and don’t do. Our beliefs and thoughts shape our current decision-making, behavior, and potential to choose the life we could lead. Use it to consider what we do, why, and says who? The answers will reveal the beliefs you have about yourself that may be limiting your present or miracle question behavior. Use it to create a new set of affirmations that can turn the answers to your miracle question into reality. These points target the things in your life that require focus.
Learning to use the miracle question positively in groups to generate conversation and progress requires a little more thought. It becomes even more critical to phrase the question well, create goals, engage, find exceptions to the problems, remain patient, and respond to each client in the group constructively.
The miracle question can be helpful with survivors of natural disasters, including children as young as six. Working in families or larger groups, the process “can facilitate adaptive coping, immediate solution-building,” and provide an opportunity to share essential strategies to discuss emotions, fears, and needs.
Group miracle question exercise: Ask the group to sit in a circle and close their eyes. Ask them to picture the following: Imagine waking up tomorrow morning. By some miracle overnight, all your problems are gone. Ask the group to imagine how they would feel and behave. Ask the group to choose one thing (it can be very small) they might do if the miracle happened, such as meeting with friends, beginning a new class, or starting to exercise. Now, imagine acting as if the problem were gone. How could you progress with your new activity, action, or behavior if your problem were no longer there? Ask the group to share the one thing they would start doing if their miracle happened; encourage them to explore how it would feel trying out the new behavior.
While the miracle question is a powerful technique in Solution-Focused Therapy and elsewhere, there are other helpful approaches as well. Exception questions can be a valuable way to “discover clients’ previous successes and amplify the client’s strengths.” While the miracle question offers insight into treatment goals, exception questions highlight possible pathways to achieve them. An example exception question and statement include: Was there a time when you were able to respond without anger? Tell me of a time when you and your wife enjoyed one another’s company.
Scaling questions provide a useful way to assess a client’s progress toward their goals. “The evaluation outcome can further guide the treatment by adjusting the behavior modification plan” in therapy. Such questions are popular in Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, where the aim is to find immediate solutions and actively assist clients in resolving their problems. Two examples of scaling questions include: On a scale of 0 to 10, how committed are you to finding a solution to your relationship problems? On a scale of 0 to 10, how controlled do you feel by your father?
The miracle question appears surprisingly straightforward, yet it has the power to provide deep insights into the client’s goals, wishes, dreams, and the obstacles they put in their way. The potential of the miracle question comes from its ability to create understanding and the awareness it generates through ongoing dialogue. Such questions talk new and additional meaning into being and help shape the therapeutic outcome.
Research into asking and answering the miracle question shows it creates dialogue through negotiation. The meaning is constructed between client and therapist socially, while they responsively negotiate what they say and how they say it. The answer to the question – what the miracle looks like – is woven back into the client’s life and their network of interpersonal relationships.
The miracle question is incredibly valuable for the client and the therapeutic process; indeed, “when therapists are taught that the miracle question is a tool for creating hope, their faith in their clients will increase, and their anxiety will decrease as a result.” Therapists can adopt the miracle question as a powerful tool for encouraging further conversation and uncovering the deeper drives that brought the client to their office for help.
中文翻译
如何在治疗中使用奇迹提问：3个示例
奇迹提问是一种焦点解决工具，帮助人们想象一个没有当前问题的未来，培养希望和清晰感。通过描述奇迹发生后的详细变化，个人可以识别实现期望结果的可操作步骤。这种技术鼓励从问题思维转向目标导向的解决方案，增强个人和治疗成长。
对于治疗师来说，这种干预有能力探索客户的隐藏资源并找到他们现有问题的解决方案。奇迹提问打开了客户治疗可能性的大门。它通过简单地要求他们考虑一个替代现实可能是什么样子来实现这一点——一个事情不同、更好、问题得到解决的世界。
本文探讨了奇迹提问以及如何在焦点解决治疗中与个人和团体使用它。奇迹提问是焦点解决治疗中一种流行的干预措施。它要求客户想象并讨论一个可能的问题被移除、问题得到解决的世界。
这个问题可以采取各种形式，例如问客户：“假设你的问题已经解决了。有什么不同？”或者，“假设你的问题消失了。这对你意味着什么？”对于治疗师来说，这种干预可以“构建一个好的故事情节，引导客户想象如果一夜之间发生奇迹，他们的生活会有多么不同。”
提供的答案为客户提供见解，同时支持治疗目标的整体定义。提问和回答这个问题涉及“提出和协商满足治疗师和客户双方的语言”，旨在实现对他们的需求和希望的有意义理解。
SFT的重点是“客户在实现目标时偏好和有益的东西”。客户通常发现SFT是一种有益的方法，其中治疗对话致力于构建治疗结果。奇迹提问促使并激励治疗师和客户之间的协商。当引入会话时，它通常提供了与先前对话的偏离。然后对话继续进行，以理解所给答案的全部含义。
治疗师必须根据客户的经验、语言和理解来定制问题，以确保它被适当地理解、考虑和回答。毕竟，这是一个可能不容易回答的大问题；它邀请客户反思更广泛的问题并进行假设性思考。
奇迹提问的力量在于为治疗过程带来清晰度，同时通过客户呈现他们的问题来加强治疗联盟。协商和来回对话对于提出和理解奇迹提问的过程至关重要。
治疗师利用它提供的洞察力“引出客户的想法、目标和可能性”，以揭示治疗的潜在结果。当客户考虑这个问题时，它会与治疗师产生新的对话，以奇迹为明确焦点。无论是作为起点还是在访谈后期，它都会在对话中引入（或重新引入）进一步的增长潜力。
客户变得更加活跃，并可能更深入地参与治疗过程，构建和协商有价值的含义和见解，同时表明他们希望从讨论中受益。奇迹提问的力量似乎在于它能够将客户从“现实生活”中提升出来，松动他们的约束并想象可能的情况。关键的是，它帮助客户拼凑出一个具体而详细的愿景，即如果没有问题，他们的生活会是什么样子。除了设定目标外，奇迹提问的目的是：
生成一个如果发生奇迹生活会是什么样子的虚拟愿景。
为客户准备问题的例外情况，瞥见一个问题不再存在（无论是暂时还是永久）的世界。
创建一个渐进的叙述，其中客户的生活被描绘成变得更好而不是更糟。
对于治疗师和客户来说，对奇迹提问的回应成为“双方同意建立新基础的共同基础”。
以下三个示例探讨了如何使用奇迹提问及其影响。您可以根据情况修改以下方法和措辞，例如个人、夫妻或家庭治疗。
尝试与您的客户一起使用以下内容：
这可能看起来是一个奇怪的问题，但请耐心听我说。想象一下像往常一样生活，在通常的时间睡觉。
您不知道的是，在夜间，发生了某事——一个奇迹。当您第二天醒来时，发生了令人兴奋的事情。
今天带您来见我的那个问题已经不存在了。
您会注意到生活中的第一个不同是什么？
有用的后续问题包括：
您如何知道奇迹已经发生？
其他人（父母、伴侣、孩子、工作同事等）会注意到您有什么不同，使他们意识到事情不同或更好？
他们的反应会是什么？他们会做什么？
您接下来会做什么？
如果我们比较前后图片，我们会看到什么（感受、想法和行为）？
您以前见过这种情况的某些元素发生过吗？
以下陈述是夫妻在婚姻治疗期间对奇迹提问的两个独特回应示例，他们因关系困难寻求帮助：
“我们会像以前一样花更多时间在一起。”
“我妻子会再次对我感兴趣，就像我们刚开始约会时一样。”
语言不仅仅是理解的工具。提问、分享和理解奇迹提问的过程在说话者和听者之间传达经验和愿望。
重要的是要记住，虽然作为一个单一问题启动，但创建生活可能是什么样子的愿景的更广泛过程可能需要整个会话。此外，提出后续问题需要技巧，但这是值得的，因为它涉及通过详细阐述构建更多细节和含义。
当治疗师提出奇迹提问时，客户会考虑一个与现在不同的可能未来。由于这种与现实的偏离可能看起来像陌生和不熟悉的领域，以下活动可能会有所帮助。
敢问工作表使用了一种略有不同的方法。它不是问“如果您明天醒来问题已经消失了会是什么样子”，而是问“如果您知道自己不会失败，您会做什么？”
应该问工作表对于理解我们做和不做的事情背后的原因至关重要。我们的信念和思想塑造了我们当前的决策、行为以及选择我们可能过的生活的潜力。用它来考虑我们做什么、为什么做，以及谁说的？答案将揭示您对自己可能限制您当前或奇迹提问行为的信念。用它来创建一套新的肯定，可以将您对奇迹提问的答案变为现实。这些点针对您生活中需要关注的事情。
学习在团体中积极使用奇迹提问以产生对话和进展需要更多思考。措辞问题、创建目标、参与、找到问题的例外情况、保持耐心并对团体中的每个客户做出建设性回应变得更加关键。
奇迹提问对自然灾害幸存者（包括年仅六岁的儿童）有帮助。在家庭或更大的团体中工作，这个过程“可以促进适应性应对、即时解决方案构建”，并提供分享基本策略以讨论情绪、恐惧和需求的机会。
团体奇迹提问练习：要求团体坐成一个圆圈并闭上眼睛。要求他们想象以下内容：想象明天早上醒来。由于夜间某个奇迹，您所有的问题都消失了。要求团体想象他们会有什么感受和行为。要求团体选择一件事（可以非常小），如果奇迹发生他们可能会做，例如与朋友见面、开始新课程或开始锻炼。现在，想象一下好像问题已经消失一样行动。如果问题不再存在，您如何推进您的新活动、行动或行为？要求团体分享如果奇迹发生他们会开始做的一件事；鼓励他们探索尝试新行为会有什么感觉。
虽然奇迹提问是焦点解决治疗和其他地方的一种强大技术，但还有其他有益的方法。例外问题可以是“发现客户以前的成功并放大客户优势”的有价值方式。虽然奇迹提问提供了对治疗目标的洞察，但例外问题突出了实现这些目标的可能途径。一个例外问题和陈述的示例包括：您是否有过能够不带愤怒回应的时候？告诉我您和您妻子享受彼此陪伴的时候。
量表问题提供了一种评估客户目标进展的有用方式。“评估结果可以通过调整治疗中的行为修改计划来进一步指导治疗。”此类问题在焦点解决短期治疗中很受欢迎，其目的是找到即时解决方案并积极帮助客户解决问题。量表问题的两个示例包括：在0到10的范围内，您对找到关系问题解决方案的承诺程度如何？在0到10的范围内，您感觉被父亲控制的程度如何？
奇迹提问看起来出奇地简单，但它有能力提供对客户目标、愿望、梦想以及他们设置的障碍的深刻洞察。奇迹提问的潜力来自于它通过持续对话创造理解和意识的能力。这样的问题将新的和额外的意义带入存在，并帮助塑造治疗结果。
对提问和回答奇迹提问的研究表明，它通过协商创造对话。意义是在客户和治疗师之间社会构建的，同时他们响应性地协商他们说什么以及如何说。问题的答案——奇迹是什么样子——被编织回客户的生活和他们的人际关系网络中。
奇迹提问对客户和治疗过程非常有价值；确实，“当治疗师被教导奇迹提问是创造希望的工具时，他们对客户的信心会增加，他们的焦虑会因此减少。”治疗师可以采用奇迹提问作为鼓励进一步对话并揭示客户前来寻求帮助的更深层驱动力的强大工具。
文章概要
本文详细介绍了奇迹提问在焦点解决治疗中的应用，这是一种帮助客户想象问题解决后未来的技术。文章解释了奇迹提问的定义、目的和实施方法，包括三个具体示例和后续问题。它强调了奇迹提问如何促进目标设定、希望培养和从问题思维向解决方案思维的转变。文章还提供了工作表、团体活动和其他相关技术（如例外问题和量表问题）的指导，展示了奇迹提问在个人、夫妻和家庭治疗中的多功能性。最后，文章总结了奇迹提问的价值，认为它能增强治疗联盟、促进对话并帮助客户构建积极的生活愿景。
高德明老师的评价
1. 用12岁初中生可以听懂的语音来重复翻译的内容：想象一下，如果你一觉醒来，所有让你烦恼的问题都像魔法一样消失了，你会注意到什么不同？比如，如果你和家人的关系变好了，你们会一起做什么开心的事？奇迹提问就是让你这样想一想，找到你真正想要的生活样子，然后一步步去实现它。
2. 焦点解决心理学理论评价：奇迹提问完美体现了焦点解决心理学的核心理念，它不纠缠于问题本身，而是直接引导客户展望一个没有问题的未来。这种技术通过构建积极愿景，激发客户的希望感和目标感，强化了“小改变带来大不同”的信念。它赞美了客户内在的资源和创造力，帮助他们在想象中预先体验成功，从而增强改变的动力和信心。
3. 在实践上可以应用的领域和可以解决人们的十个问题：奇迹提问可广泛应用于家庭系统治疗、婚姻咨询、学校教育、职场辅导、创伤恢复、青少年发展、成瘾治疗、焦虑管理、团队建设和个人成长等领域。它可以解决人们的以下十个问题：家庭沟通不畅、夫妻关系紧张、个人目标模糊、工作压力过大、情绪低落缺乏动力、亲子冲突、社交恐惧、生活方向迷失、自我价值感低、以及应对重大生活变故后的适应困难。通过聚焦未来可能性，它帮助人们清晰目标、增强希望、改善关系、提升自信、促进合作、激发创意、缓解焦虑、找到意义、建立积极习惯和加速康复进程。