One Question at a Time

I’ve heard it so many times, and maybe you’ve felt it too...

“I like the idea of the solution focused approach, but I just don’t see how it fits with everything I have to deal with. I rarely have time to think, much less think of questions to ask.”

If that’s where you are today, this message is for you.

Because the truth is, you don’t need a full counseling session to be solution focused.

You don’t need 45 minutes, a quiet office, or a breakthrough moment.

You just need a single question that helps your school client begin to consider what they want instead of what they don’t.

That question doesn’t have to be perfectly crafted.
If you’re curious, even a little, about how they want things to be, you’re already doing the work.

It’s a shift in your lens...

• From problem-solver to curious ally

• From fixer to finder of what’s possible

Here’s what that might sound like...

A student comes in overwhelmed and hopeless. You gently say:
“That sounds tough. But you still showed up today. Tell me, how did you do that?”

A teacher on the verge of quitting vents about burnout. You offer:
“Take me back to a time when you still loved this job. What was happening then?”

A parent who calls often hasn’t yet reached out today. You send a note first:
“Just checking in with you. Tell me what you’ve noticed going well with your second grader lately?”

You feel stuck with a situation that won’t budge. You pause and ask yourself:
“What does this student actually want? That’s where I’ll go next.”

That’s it. That’s the work.

The solution focused approach isn’t a script, it’s a mindset.

It’s a curious, respectful way of thinking that loosens the grip of the problem and creates space for the person in front of you to take a step forward.

You don’t need more time—you just need a moment.

Try it once today. Just one question. See where it leads.

With admiration for all you carry, I am here to help you carry less.