Principle Six:
Ask Questions
Open-ended and exploratory questions are helpful to ask, especially when there is a substantial disagreement. The goal of dialogue is not to get everyone to agree, but rather to share their experience. Asking questions is a way to understand one another because by opening up for deeper conversations, questions are answered. It is also an opportunity for others to clearly communicate their opinions, hopes, fears and experiences (Borhan, 2023).
As noted in Principle Five, statements are considered valid because they come from an individual’s point of view. This does not mean accepting radical, racist or offensive statements. Open ended questions are a way of understanding their origins. It is respect for the person expressing their opinion and acknowledging both their experiences and that their opinions are true to them (Borhan, 2023).
Ask your client when they ask a question, what is their tone? Is it curious or asked with bias?
The below activity asks an individual to use open-ended questions to facilitate a safe and open dialogue to help understand other’s point of view.
Activity:
Have the individual choose an issue they feel strongly about. Role-play with the therapist assuming an opposite opinion. Have the individual ask the below open-ended questions to understand the other’s point of view.
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What supports your beliefs around this issue?
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What other evidence informs your beliefs?
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How can we work together to understand each other?
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How can we avoid conflicts like these in the future?