ABSTRACT
Eliciting hope is the very first layer of an effective solution-building conversation. It puts the LGBT clients into the driver's seat from the very first question of the therapist, which makes it much easier to keep them there as the conversation continues. It specifies the direction of the coming therapeutic conversation, and acts as a contract between client and therapist. This process of eliciting hope from clients allows both the client and the practitioner to develop an understanding of where the conversation ahead will lead, and it serves as a verbal contract about what will follow a contract wherein the therapist agrees to ask questions about their client's hopes from therapy. One should always remember that they came with realistic hope, and thus, the task is to help them to identify that hope by digging a bit further with a question like, 'What difference would that make?' or simply, 'What else?' until their answer comes in a more realistic form.
