英文原文
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, and 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. 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. The miracle question is powerful in a group setting. The process helps to imagine how good life could be if the group had everything they ever wanted. 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, you have been given everything you ever wanted and life has turned out just as you have always wished. Ask each member of the group to keep imagining and ask themselves the following: What would you notice that would make you realize the miracle had happened? What would you hear and see? How would you feel differently inside? How would you be different? Ask the group to share how that future might look and feel. Then ask them to share what steps they could take to make some of this come true. While the following exercise is powerful for individuals, it can promote intense discussion and valuable sharing of solutions in a group. 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. 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
奇迹提问是焦点解决疗法中一种流行的干预手段。它要求来访者想象并讨论一个可能的世界，在那里问题被消除，议题得到解决。这个问题可以采取多种形式，例如询问来访者：“假设你的问题已经解决。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“构建一个良好的故事线，引导来访者设想如果一夜之间发生奇迹，他们的生活会有多么不同”。提供的答案不仅为来访者提供洞见，还支持治疗目标的整体定义。提问和回答的过程涉及“提出和协商满足治疗师和来访者双方的语言”，旨在实现对他们的需求和希望有意义的理解。焦点解决疗法的重点是“来访者在实现目标过程中偏好和有益的内容”。来访者通常发现焦点解决疗法是一种有益的方法，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来访者之间的协商。当在会谈中引入时，它通常提供了一个与先前对话不同的出发点。然后对话继续进行，以充分理解所给答案的意义。治疗师必须根据来访者的经验、语言和理解来调整问题，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；它邀请来访者反思更广泛的问题，并进行“如果……会怎样”的思考。奇迹提问的力量在于为治疗过程带来清晰度，同时通过来访者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见“引出来访者的想法、目标和可能性”，以揭示治疗的潜在结果。当来访者考虑这个问题时，它会与治疗师产生以奇迹为明确焦点的新对话。无论是作为起点还是在访谈后期，它都为对话引入（或重新引入）进一步成长的潜力。来访者变得更加积极，并可能更投入治疗过程，构建和协商有价值的含义和洞见，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来访者从“现实生活”中提升出来，摆脱他们的限制，想象可能的情况。关键的是，它帮助来访者拼凑出一个具体而详尽的愿景，描绘在没有问题的情况下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，为来访者准备问题的例外情况，瞥见一个问题不再存在的世界（无论是暂时还是永久），并创建一个渐进式的叙述，其中来访者的生活被描绘得越来越好而不是越来越糟。对于治疗师和来访者来说，对奇迹提问的回应成为“双方同意建立新基础的共同基础”。以下三个例子探讨了如何使用奇迹提问及其影响。您可以根据情况（例如个人、夫妻或家庭治疗）修改以下方法和措辞。尝试与您的来访者进行以下操作：这可能是一个奇怪的问题，但请耐心听我说。想象一下，像往常一样生活，在通常的时间上床睡觉。在您不知情的情况下，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。今天让您来找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）会注意到您的什么变化，让他们意识到事情不同或更好了？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吗？以下陈述是一对夫妇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。”“我的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倾听者之间传达经验和愿望。重要的是要记住，虽然最初是作为一个单一问题提出的，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谈。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意义。奇迹提问对自然灾害幸存者（包括年仅六岁的儿童）可能有帮助。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的机会，以讨论情绪、恐惧和需求。奇迹提问在团体环境中非常强大。这个过程有助于想象如果团体拥有他们曾经想要的一切，生活会有多美好。让团体成员围坐一圈，闭上眼睛。让他们想象以下情景：想象明天早上醒来。由于夜间某个奇迹，您得到了您曾经想要的一切，生活正如您一直希望的那样。让每个团体成员继续想象，并问自己以下问题：您会注意到什么让您意识到奇迹已经发生？您会听到和看到什么？您内心会有什么不同的感受？您会有什么不同？让团体分享那个未来可能是什么样子和感觉。然后让他们分享他们可以采取哪些步骤来实现其中的一些内容。虽然以下练习对个人很强大，但它可以在团体中促进激烈的讨论和有价值的解决方案分享。让团体成员围坐一圈，闭上眼睛。让他们想象以下情景：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。让团体想象他们会有什么感受和行为。让团体选择一件事（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，好像问题已经消失了一样。如果您的问題不再存在，您如何推进您的新活动、行动或行为？让团体分享如果他们的奇迹发生，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。奇迹提问看起来出奇地简单，但它有能力深入洞察来访者的目标、愿望、梦想以及他们设置的障碍。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。意义是在来访者和治疗师之间社会性地构建的，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——被编织回来访者的生活和他们的人际关系网络中。奇迹提问对来访者和治疗过程来说非常有价值；事实上，“当治疗师被教导奇迹提问是创造希望的工具时，他们对来访者的信心会增加，他们的焦虑会因此减少。”治疗师可以采用奇迹提问作为一个强大的工具，鼓励进一步的对话，并揭示将来访者带到他们办公室寻求帮助的更深层驱动力。
文章概要
本文围绕“奇迹提问在家庭治疗中的三个应用实例”这一关键词，详细介绍了奇迹提问在焦点解决疗法中的应用。文章首先解释了奇迹提问的定义和目的，即通过让来访者想象问题解决后的未来，帮助他们识别目标、激发希望并构建解决方案。接着，文章提供了三个具体实例，包括在个人、夫妻和家庭治疗中的使用方式，以及相关的后续问题和团体活动。文章还强调了奇迹提问在促进治疗对话、加强治疗联盟和推动个人成长方面的价值，并指出其在自然灾害幸存者等群体中的适用性。整体而言，文章展示了奇迹提问作为一种强大工具，如何帮助来访者从问题导向转向目标导向，实现积极改变。
高德明老师的评价
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，所有烦恼都像魔法一样消失了，你会先注意到什么不同？比如，和家人吵架的问题没了，你们会不会一起开心地玩游戏？这就是“奇迹提问”，它帮你看到美好的未来，找到改变的小步骤。
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，它聚焦于来访者的目标、资源和未来可能性，而非纠缠于问题本身。通过构建“奇迹发生后的世界”，来访者能够跳出当前困境，激活内在希望和创造力。这种技术强化了治疗联盟，促进了对话中的共同建构，使治疗过程充满合作与赋能。来访者在描述细节时，自然识别出例外和解决方案，这展示了焦点解决疗法“小改变引发大变化”的智慧。
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治疗、婚姻咨询、学校教育、职场辅导、创伤恢复、团体工作、个人成长、社区服务、青少年指导和健康管理。它能帮助人们解决以下十个问题：家庭冲突沟通不畅、夫妻关系疏远冷漠、个人目标模糊不清、情绪压力焦虑困扰、社交困难孤立无援、学习动力不足拖延、职场压力 burnout 倦怠、创伤后应激障碍闪回、自我价值感低落否定、未来方向迷茫不确定。