10 Therapy Questions to Get to the Root of the Problem

Are your therapy clients meeting their primal needs?

Before assuming something's seriously wrong, we should assess how our client is meeting the Primal Human Needs we all share. In this video I talk about those needs in more detail and give 10 sample therapy questions you can use in conversations with your clients to help assess their lifestyle, and where changes could be made.

You should feel free to come up with your own questions (and you may like to share them in the comments section below), but I hope the sample questions in this video will provide you with some inspiration in helping your therapy clients.

Learn more about how to meet your Primal Human Needs in this in depth article:

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Video highlights
00:00 Introduction
00:16 Don't overlook the obvious!
02:55 What are the Primal Human Needs?
03:21 The consequences of unmet needs
04:43 How do we assess how well the Primal Human Needs are being met?
05:47 10 questions to get to the root of your client's problem

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++About Mark Tyrrell++

Psychology is my passion. I've been a psychotherapist trainer since 1998, specializing in brief, solution focused approaches. I now teach practitioners all over the world via our online courses.

More about me here:

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[kaydeebug]

1) How often do you get to meet up with friends? (need for attention and community)
2) Can you and your partner really talk together? (attention and intimacy)
3) How are you sleeping these days? (mind body connection)
4) Are you happy with your diet? (mind body connection)
5) How much exercise are you getting? (mind body connection)
6) Is there anyone who you feel really understands you, and is close to you? (intimacy)
7) What choice do you have about what happens in your life? (control and security)
8) Do you have a clear sense of where you want to take things in life? (purpose, what gets me out of bed in the morning)
9) Do you feel excited by stuff in your life? (challenge purpose meaning)
10) What involvement do you have with people around you? (community and status)

[jeffkoe]

I.T. Professionals say, “Always check the Simplest possibilities first. Is the computer plugged in? Are the wires all firmly connected?” It saves so much time.

[thomasreinhardt]

These are valuable questions. However, sometimes negative answers (like having no friends etc.) are symptoms of deeper issues: WHY does that person not have someone to talk to? When you follow that trail, your client and you might unearth dysfunctional beliefs, attachment problems or even traumatic events. Used like that, these questions can jump start a therapeutic process. All the best to everyone!

[ShazWag]

He's got it spot on. I can categorically say that I have none of these things, which would explain my deep depression and why I feel no point in continuing the intense, never-ending pain. I feel totally trapped.

[chriszone]

I was depressed, I still am, I used to focus on different things but it took me years to identify and prioritise my primal needs and this video clarifies it. I find that I don't meet a lot of these targets but am enthusiastic to working on them.

[lynnewilson]

When I've been in therapy, I was never asked any of these sorts of questions and always felt something was missing. Now I know why! Thinking back to my counselling training I don't remember being taught to ask this either, not in the way you explain. Seems so obvious and fundamental, like "have you plugged in your computer"?

[ianboys]

I think this is great and matches what I've asked - SERP, Sleep, Exercise, Relationships, Purpose. Too often purpose is overlooked.

[lenoredavi]

Yes! Context is so important. Answering these questions could save many people from incorrect diagnosis and unhelpful treatments. ❤

[hana]

Hey Mark, I'm Hanan, a graduate student of school psychology from Indonesia. I just wanna say that this channel is amazing! I plan to watch all of your videos to learn more about counseling. Thank you so much!

[doreengayer]

Very insightful and love your calm way of speaking it helps put one in a peaceful state of mind!!

[rockchick]

You are so kind and soft spoken. It’s relaxing just listening to your voice.

[mpeel]

This man is so insightful and has helped me immensely!

[aasif]

1) How often you meet your friends?
2) How you are sleeping these days ?
3) Are you happy with your diets ?
4) Do you have clear sense of where your life is going ?
5) Do you feel excited when you wakeup?
6) Can you and your partner talk to each other?
7) How much exercise are you getting these days?
8) What choices do you have in life?
9) Do you feel excited by the stuff in your life?
10) What involvement do you have with people around you?

[A_Jel]

Brilliant, thank you. There’s magic in questions—they seem to always elicit an inner search and that’s valuable in any setting.

[shelleycharlesworth]

GREAT video-! I'm applauding from San Diego! BRAVO to you!

[jyotikavarmani]

A very insightful analogy of the car and the fuel sir. Thank you so much for presenting us with such simple yet powerful questions that will really prevent us from overlooking the obvious!

[ghazalaali]

Hi just seen this video I am a level 4 trainee counsellor, and I feel this will help me with my sessions with my peers, than I can be signed off for my training. I have difficulty engaging with the client and keeping the time limit to 50 minutes. I hope I get better at this, Thank you for the upload.

[deanneharrall]

Thanks for that video, my husband died two years ago, although I’ve moved on and making the best of life, I sometimes feel sad and not sure of myself, what this video has taught me, is I have to look and see what I’m not doing to make my life more fulfilling, as you say, “look for possible reasons or “fuel in the tank” and the one that came across was I’m not having enough friends. This insight has made me more aware, that I can feel more positive and has put a more prospective on my feelings. Thanks again Deanne

[vicvic]

I've made notes and I'm going to dictate this material on my smartphone with my voice to ensure it becomes part of my knowledge quicker. Lifesaving stuff indeed. Thank you!

[stardavies]

Awesome Love the way you put these VITAL questions. The need for these needs begins in childhood (they are not wants but deep natural needs) and if a child's needs are not met they will usually go into the unconscious and may come out in the child and or grown up as manipulating others or as illness to get them because cannot ask for what we need for fear ec & are for many reasons and we may never know that we can ask or if learn how we can provide these needs for ourselves once we know we can & that we are worth and that we are entitled to them We have so much to learn and to heal Thank You for being part of the solutions & the Healing energy on this planet Big Blessings Thank YOU Thanks to the person who listed them Bless You too