Exploratory Diagnostic Inquiry

After the pure inquiry has been completed, the consultant begins to manage the process of how the content is analyzed and elaborated but does not insert content ideas, suggestions, advice, or options. “In this form of inquiry, the consultant begins to influence the client’s mental process by deliberately focusing on issues other than the ones the client chose to report in telling the story” (Schein, 1999, p. 46). These questions do not influence the content of the story but rather the focus of attention within the story. There are three versions of this inquiry.

Exploring Emotional Responses: Feelings and Reactions

The purpose of exploring emotional responses is to focus clients on their feelings and reactions in response to the events described. This focus is accomplished by asking questions such as the following (Schein, 1999, p. 46):

• How did (do) you feel about that?
• Did (does) that arouse any reactions in you?
• What was (is) your emotional reaction to that?
• What was your reaction?
• How did others feel, react?

Exploring Reasons for Actions and Events (Hypotheses for Causes)

The purpose of exploring for reasons behind actions and events is to focus clients on their own hypotheses about why things might have happened the way they did. You can explore for reasons by asking questions such as the following (Schein, 1999, p. 46):

• Why do you suppose that happened?
• Why did you (she, he, they) react that way? [after the client has revealed a reaction]
• Why did you (he, she, they) do that? [after the client has revealed some action]
• Why did you do that?
• Why do you think that happened?

Exploring Actions Taken or Contemplated (Past, Present, and Future)

The purpose of exploring actions is to focus the client on what they or others in the story did, are thinking about doing, or are planning to do in the future, because often the story will not reveal past, present, or future actions either by the client or others in the story. To explore actions taken or contemplated, ask questions such as the following (Schein, 1999, p. 47):

• What did you (he, she, they) do about that?
• What are you going to do next?
• What did you (he, she, they) do then?
• What did you do about that?
• What are you going to do?
• What will the other do?
• What options do you have?
• What should you do?

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References

Schein, E. (1999). Process consultation revisited: Building the helping relationship. Addison-Wesley.