ABSTRACT
In many respects, techniques represent the penthouses of therapy. They sit atop the theoretician's view of how the world should look. These intricate and mysteriously designed bits of wizardry embody the theories they represent. Yet their high visibility makes them vulnerable to abuse through imitation. While imitation connotes flattery, it seldom produces good therapy. Although important, techniques simply reflect theory. For the beginning therapist, it is much more important to think, and then speak, consistent with a theoretical position than it is to regurgitate tricks from a text. The clearest way to convey your thoughts is through speech. And the easiest way to illustrate your perspective in therapy is through questions. Questions form the basis of good therapy. They generate information, alter perspectives, and allow change. Moreover, by their structure, questions can provoke and gently antagonize the family without direct confrontation. This allows faster access to the family's belief system.
