356 Chapter 41
Circular questioning
This means that one question leads on to the next in a different direction
outwards, rather than linearly towards a definition of phenomena (see
Box 41.4).
Box 41.4An example of classical Milan systemic therapy
The same family described in Box 41.2 is interviewed. This time the therapist asks
a series of questions eliciting the differences among family members, initially
asking the daughter, Jane, ‘Who is the most upset that Robert is not going to
school?’ She says her Daddy. Mrs Jones is asked what would happen if her husband
got firm and insisted Robert went. Mr Jones interjects that he would never insist
as this would be an authoritarian act, and his own father was a rigid disciplinarian
who scarred him for life by his bullying – no son of his was going be treated the
same way. Jane is now asked who would be most upset if Robert did go to school.
She replies that her Mummy would be lonely. Mrs Jones is then asked again what
would happen if her husband got firm and insisted Robert went to school. She
replies that Robert is delicate and she is anxious that if he were pushed, he would
have a nervous breakdown, just as Mr Jones did when he was 15. The younger
brother John is asked what would happen if Robert went back to school. He
replies that Jane would be triumphant, as she is clever but Robert failed his
mock exams earlier in the year and would be made to look stupid. John says the
whole family has had it drummed into them how important school success is –
their father was a dustman’s son but through academic success had become a
middle-class teacher.
The therapist takes a break to consult her colleagues behind the one-way
mirror. They suggest the family seem paralysed by two fear-provoking, conflicting
beliefs: if you don’t work hard enough you might fail academically; and if you
work too hard you might have a breakdown. They recommend the therapist ask
the family members how each of them sees the future in two years time. On her
return to the family, she asks this. Robert says he would like to be free of pain
and back to playing football, and grins as he says that by then he won’t have
to do maths any more. John says he hopes he’ll be in the school football team
at the secondary school he’ll be attending by then. He adds that he wished that
his father, Robert and he could play football together as they used to, stating
proudly that his Dad used to be in the university team. Mother says she’d like to
be nursing again, and Jane says she’d be impressed if her Mum did that. Father
says he couldn’t wish for any more than they have said, but hopes he won’t have
to wait two years for a football game with his sons: ‘What about a game tonight?’
The boys agree enthusiastically.
The therapist says she is impressed by the way the family work together to
solve problems. She wonders whether Mr Jones’ experience of having had a
breakdown and then recovering could be used to help Robert. Mr Jones says it
occurs to him that he could go back to helping Robert with maths. He had been
anxious not to put pressure on his son but now thinks Robert probably doesn’t
know where to start, having been out of school for so long. Robert looks relieved.
The family carry on discussing what they could do now, in order to get to where
they want to be in two years time. At the follow-up visit two weeks later, Robert’s
pain is far less and he has begun a graded reintroduction to school.