Child’s Life Issue Interviewing Protocol

Integral Deep Listening

Life Issue

Interviewing Instructions

For Children

Joseph Dillard, LCSW, PhD

Joseph.Dillard@Gmail.Com

 

Is there anything you’d like to change in your life?

 

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Is there anything else?

 

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Is there anything else?

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Which issue brings up the strongest feelings for you?

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If those feelings had a color or colors, what would it be?

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Imagine the color could turn into any animal it wanted. What would it want to be? (alternately, “ Imagine the color could turn into anything it wanted. What would it want to be?)

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Now pretend you’re that character, OK?

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(Character,) I’m going to ask you some questions, OK?  We don’t want to hear from ____ now.  Just YOU.  OK?

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(Character), what do you like most about yourself?

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(Character), what do you dislike most about yourself?

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(Character), _____ created you out of those feelings and colors, right?

 

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What part of ______ are you most like?

 

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(Character,) if you could be anywhere you wanted to be and take any shape you desired, would you change?  If so, how?

 

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(Character), Do you ever get scared?  If you’re scared all the time, give yourself a zero.  Give yourself a “10” if you’re never afraid!   Why?

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(Character), how much do you care?  Give yourself a “10” if you care about everyone, or are always loving toward everyone, including yourself!  Give yourself a “0” if you are mad at everyone, including yourself!  Why?

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(Character), how wise are you?  Give yourself a “10” if you always know what to do and say.  Give yourself a “0” if you never do!  Why?

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(Character), how accepting are you?  Give yourself a “10” if you accept everyone, including yourself!  Give yourself a “0” if you reject everyone, including yourself!  Why?

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(Character), how at peace are you?  Give yourself a “10” if you’re always deeply at peace!  Give yourself a “0” if you’re never peaceful!  Why?

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(Character), how objective are you?  Give yourself a “10” if you can always watch the drama of life and not get caught up in it!  Give yourself a “0” if you’re always caught up in life’s dramas!  Why?

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(Character), if you scored tens in all six of these qualities, would your life be different? If so, how?

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(Character), if _______ scored tens in all six of these qualities, would his/her life be different? If so, how?

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(Character,) if you could live ______ life for him/her, how would you live it differently?

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(Character,) if you were _____, how would you deal with the first thing he/she wants to change?

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(Character,) if you were _____, how would you deal with the second thing he/she wants to change?

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(Character,) if you were_____, how would you deal with the third thing he/she wants to change?

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(Character,) would it ever be helpful for ______ to imagine that he/she is you and act as you would?  When?

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(Character), how is ______ most likely to ignore what you are saying?

 

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What would you recommend that _____ do about that?

 

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______, what have you heard yourself say?

 

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Were you given any things you could change to make your life better?  What?

 

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What could you do differently this week to test (character) to see if his/her recommendations make your life better?

 

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If this experience were a wake-up call from your soul, what do you think it would be saying to you?

 

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Can I call you or email you during the week to see how things are going?

 

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I am going to send you a copy of this interview. Would you be willing to run off a copy and put it beside your bed to read over before you go to sleep?

 

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