Unique outcome questions

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Short definition

Unique outcome questions are narrative questions that explore moments when the problem was less powerful, absent, resisted or interrupted.

Level

LEVEL 4 — TECHNIQUES AND INTERVENTIONS

Expanded definition

Unique outcome questions are used in narrative therapy to identify experiences that do not fit the dominant problem story.

A unique outcome may be a moment when the person responded differently, when the problem had less influence, when a relationship was different, or when a preferred value became visible.

These moments may be small and easily overlooked.

For example, if the dominant story is “I always give in to anxiety”, a unique outcome might be a moment when the person went out despite anxiety being present.

If the family story is “we only argue”, a unique outcome might be a moment when people paused, used humour, softened their tone or repaired afterwards.

Unique outcome questions help bring these moments into attention so they can be developed into alternative and preferred stories.

Purpose of this technique

The purpose of this technique is to loosen the dominance of the problem story.

Unique outcome questions help people:

notice exceptions to totalising descriptions
identify acts of agency and resistance
connect actions to values
develop alternative stories
strengthen preferred identity
recognise moments of care, repair or hope
imagine future possibilities

When to use this technique

Use unique outcome questions when:

the problem story feels totalising
the person uses “always”, “never” or “nothing”
small moments of difference appear
the therapist notices an exception
the family needs hope without false reassurance
re-authoring conversations are beginning
the therapist wants to develop preferred stories

How to use this technique

Listen for exceptions, differences, contradictions and small acts of resistance.

Ask about these moments in detail.

Explore:

what happened
what the person did
what was different
who noticed
what helped
what this says about values
whether this has happened before
what it could make possible in the future

Do not rush. The value of unique outcome questions comes from careful development.

Example prompts / questions

Can you tell me about a time when you prevented this problem from oppressing you?
Have there been times when you have been able to get the best of the problem?
Were there times when the problem could have taken over, but you kept it out of the picture?
When was the problem less powerful?
What was different about that moment?
What did you do first?
How did the other person respond?
What did you do next?
Who noticed this difference?
What helped this happen?
What does this say about what matters to you?
Has anything like this happened before?
What might this make possible next time?

Non-clinical example

A person says:

“I never manage to say no.”

The therapist asks whether there has been even one small time when they protected their own time.

The person remembers declining an invitation when they were exhausted.

This becomes a unique outcome that can be explored as self-respect and care for wellbeing.

Clinical example

A family says:

“We always shout.”

The therapist asks whether there was a recent moment when anger was present but shouting did not happen.

The family remembers one evening when the young person left the room and returned later, and the parent chose not to follow immediately.

This moment is explored as restraint, care and a wish to avoid hurting the relationship.

What this technique can open up

Unique outcome questions can open:

alternative story development
preferred story development
re-authoring conversations
scaffolding conversations
landscape of action and identity mapping
recognition of values and commitments
future action planning
therapeutic documents or witnessing

Risks, cautions and ethical considerations

Unique outcome questions should not be used to minimise the problem.

The therapist should not imply that because an exception exists, the problem should be easy to solve.

Some people may feel pressured by exception questions if they are used too quickly.

The therapist should first honour the real effects of the problem before developing unique outcomes.

Questions before using this technique

Has the problem story been heard enough?
Is the person ready to explore exceptions?
Could this feel like minimising?
What small differences have appeared?
What values may be visible in these moments?
Who might have witnessed the unique outcome?

Questions during use

Is the person recognising the moment as meaningful?
Am I developing the unique outcome enough?
Am I moving too quickly towards positivity?
What values are emerging?
What story could this moment support?
Should I ask landscape of action or landscape of meaning questions next?

Questions after use

What unique outcome became visible?
Did I connect it to values and identity?
Did I avoid minimising the problem?
What alternative story could grow from this?
Who could witness this story?
What method should follow?

Related epistemologies

Narrative epistemology Social constructionism Poststructuralist epistemology Postmodern epistemology Relational epistemology Systemic epistemology

Related schools and models

Narrative Systemic Therapy Brief Solution Focused Conversational Dialogic

Related concepts

Unique outcomes Alternative story Preferred story Dominant story Problem-saturated story Thickening the plot Agency Resistance Difference that makes a difference Stories lived vs stories told

Related pathways

Narrative pathway Brief Solution Focused pathway Conversational pathway Dialogic pathway Family and relational dynamics pathway

Key theorists / contributors

Michael White David Epston Alice Morgan Jill Freedman Gene Combs Steve de Shazer Insoo Kim Berg

Key texts / references

White, M., & Epston, D. (1990). Narrative Means to Therapeutic Ends. Norton.
White, M. (2007). Maps of Narrative Practice. Norton.
Morgan, A. (2000). What Is Narrative Therapy? An Easy-to-Read Introduction. Dulwich Centre Publications.
Freedman, J., & Combs, G. (1996). Narrative Therapy: The Social Construction of Preferred Realities. Norton.
de Shazer, S. (1985). Keys to Solution in Brief Therapy. Norton.

Notes / source material

Unique outcome questions are most useful when followed by questions that thicken meaning.

A unique outcome becomes therapeutically significant when it is connected to values, intentions, relationships and preferred identity.

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