ABSTRACT
Chapter 7 addresses the desperation of clients who believe “nothing will get better.” When clients are faced with a discouraging situation, presupposition and coping questions can be effective in challenging feelings of hopelessness, while at the same time helping a client to notice some measures of success that already exist. Those small, previously unnoticed things that a client is doing become the first steps for the client to build on. Clients benefit when they are reminded of and encouraged to continue to use their coping skills through “there must be something” question sequences. Coping questions such as, “How come things aren’t worse?” can be effective at eliciting strengths, exceptions, and solutions. When used strategically and appropriately, compliments—followed up with “How did you do that?”—can solidify progress and motivate a client to continue constructive efforts. Advocacy can help a client overcome obstacles when progress is stifled by an agency that is inadvertently sabotaging their efforts.
