🧠 Ken’s Counseling Tip
This may seem simple — but it’s actually a very powerful clinical tool.
After 30+ years of counseling sessions, one of my favorite prompts for eliciting clearer, richer client material is:
“Give me an example.”
I know — it sounds almost too simple. But if you’re not using this prompt regularly, I strongly encourage you to try it.
When a client is struggling to describe something abstract, confusing, or emotionally loaded, instead of defaulting to:
“Tell me more about that…”
General reflections (MI)
try simply saying:
“Give me an example.”
It almost always works.
🗣️ Here are a few examples of when this fits perfectly:
Client:
“My best friend is amazing, but at the same time she really gets on my nerves. I can’t really explain why.”
Therapist:
“Give me an example.”
Client:
“I’ll be doing the right thing — staying away from substances — and then all of a sudden, at certain times, things just go bad and I don’t see it coming.”
Therapist:
“Give me an example.”
🔍 Why this works
It is an incredibly easy and nonthreatening way to elicit open ended, detailed info
It moves clients from vague language to concrete personal experience
It bypasses overthinking
It surfaces patterns, triggers, and emotional context naturally without probing
It deepens insight without pressure or interpretation
For more seasoned clinicians, this may sound almost too basic. But if you’re newer — or if you’ve never intentionally leaned on this prompt — try it this week.
If you do, comment and let me know how it went!
For me, it’s a go-to — and it still works after decades in the room and I want to share it with you
Thanks for all that you do
Ken