Invite the client to define what matters in their experience. Identity, relationships, community, faith, disability, work, and systems can shape a problem and possible support. Ask with curiosity without requiring the client to educate you about an entire group.
Begin with the client's explanation
Ask: "What do you call this concern? What do you think contributes to it? What do people important to you understand differently?" Leave room for uncertainty and for more than one explanation.
Explore resources and barriers
Ask about belonging, responsibilities, discrimination, financial pressure, access, and support when relevant. Notice both individual coping and changes needed in the environment. Do not turn structural harm into a personal thinking error.
Check your own interpretation
Offer a tentative summary and invite correction: "What have I missed or assumed?" Discuss whether the proposed intervention fits the client's values and circumstances. Identify knowledge you need to seek independently or through consultation.
Reflection prompts
Use these questions in conversation, on paper, or in the downloaded PDF. You may adapt or skip a prompt.
The client's language and explanation of the concern
Relevant relationships, identities, resources, and pressures
My assumptions or gaps in understanding
How the treatment plan will respond to this context
Facilitator notes and adaptation
Ask permission before sensitive identity questions and explain their relevance. Avoid stereotypes or assuming within-group similarity. Use qualified language access where needed and include client corrections in the ongoing formulation.
Sources behind the concepts
These sources inform the concepts in this original resource. They do not validate or endorse this specific page.