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<p><b>New page</b></p><div>= Unique outcome questions =<br />
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== Short definition ==<br />
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Unique outcome questions are narrative questions that explore moments when the problem was less powerful, absent, resisted or interrupted.<br />
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== Level ==<br />
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[[LEVEL 4 — TECHNIQUES AND INTERVENTIONS]]<br />
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== Expanded definition ==<br />
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Unique outcome questions are used in narrative therapy to identify experiences that do not fit the dominant problem story.<br />
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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.<br />
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These moments may be small and easily overlooked.<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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Unique outcome questions help bring these moments into attention so they can be developed into alternative and preferred stories.<br />
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== Purpose of this technique ==<br />
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The purpose of this technique is to loosen the dominance of the problem story.<br />
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Unique outcome questions help people:<br />
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* notice exceptions to totalising descriptions<br />
* identify acts of agency and resistance<br />
* connect actions to values<br />
* develop alternative stories<br />
* strengthen preferred identity<br />
* recognise moments of care, repair or hope<br />
* imagine future possibilities<br />
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== When to use this technique ==<br />
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Use unique outcome questions when:<br />
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* the problem story feels totalising<br />
* the person uses “always”, “never” or “nothing”<br />
* small moments of difference appear<br />
* the therapist notices an exception<br />
* the family needs hope without false reassurance<br />
* re-authoring conversations are beginning<br />
* the therapist wants to develop preferred stories<br />
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== How to use this technique ==<br />
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Listen for exceptions, differences, contradictions and small acts of resistance.<br />
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Ask about these moments in detail.<br />
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Explore:<br />
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* what happened<br />
* what the person did<br />
* what was different<br />
* who noticed<br />
* what helped<br />
* what this says about values<br />
* whether this has happened before<br />
* what it could make possible in the future<br />
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Do not rush. The value of unique outcome questions comes from careful development.<br />
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== Example prompts / questions ==<br />
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* Can you tell me about a time when you prevented this problem from oppressing you?<br />
* Have there been times when you have been able to get the best of the problem?<br />
* Were there times when the problem could have taken over, but you kept it out of the picture?<br />
* When was the problem less powerful?<br />
* What was different about that moment?<br />
* What did you do first?<br />
* How did the other person respond?<br />
* What did you do next?<br />
* Who noticed this difference?<br />
* What helped this happen?<br />
* What does this say about what matters to you?<br />
* Has anything like this happened before?<br />
* What might this make possible next time?<br />
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== Non-clinical example ==<br />
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A person says:<br />
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“I never manage to say no.”<br />
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The therapist asks whether there has been even one small time when they protected their own time.<br />
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The person remembers declining an invitation when they were exhausted.<br />
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This becomes a unique outcome that can be explored as self-respect and care for wellbeing.<br />
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== Clinical example ==<br />
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A family says:<br />
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“We always shout.”<br />
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The therapist asks whether there was a recent moment when anger was present but shouting did not happen.<br />
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The family remembers one evening when the young person left the room and returned later, and the parent chose not to follow immediately.<br />
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This moment is explored as restraint, care and a wish to avoid hurting the relationship.<br />
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== What this technique can open up ==<br />
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Unique outcome questions can open:<br />
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* alternative story development<br />
* preferred story development<br />
* re-authoring conversations<br />
* scaffolding conversations<br />
* landscape of action and identity mapping<br />
* recognition of values and commitments<br />
* future action planning<br />
* therapeutic documents or witnessing<br />
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== Risks, cautions and ethical considerations ==<br />
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Unique outcome questions should not be used to minimise the problem.<br />
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The therapist should not imply that because an exception exists, the problem should be easy to solve.<br />
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Some people may feel pressured by exception questions if they are used too quickly.<br />
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The therapist should first honour the real effects of the problem before developing unique outcomes.<br />
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== Questions before using this technique ==<br />
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* Has the problem story been heard enough?<br />
* Is the person ready to explore exceptions?<br />
* Could this feel like minimising?<br />
* What small differences have appeared?<br />
* What values may be visible in these moments?<br />
* Who might have witnessed the unique outcome?<br />
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== Questions during use ==<br />
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* Is the person recognising the moment as meaningful?<br />
* Am I developing the unique outcome enough?<br />
* Am I moving too quickly towards positivity?<br />
* What values are emerging?<br />
* What story could this moment support?<br />
* Should I ask landscape of action or landscape of meaning questions next?<br />
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== Questions after use ==<br />
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* What unique outcome became visible?<br />
* Did I connect it to values and identity?<br />
* Did I avoid minimising the problem?<br />
* What alternative story could grow from this?<br />
* Who could witness this story?<br />
* What method should follow?<br />
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== Related epistemologies ==<br />
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[[Narrative epistemology]]<br />
[[Social constructionism]]<br />
[[Poststructuralist epistemology]]<br />
[[Postmodern epistemology]]<br />
[[Relational epistemology]]<br />
[[Systemic epistemology]]<br />
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== Related schools and models ==<br />
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[[Narrative]]<br />
[[Systemic Therapy]]<br />
[[Brief Solution Focused]]<br />
[[Conversational]]<br />
[[Dialogic]]<br />
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== Related concepts ==<br />
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[[Unique outcomes]]<br />
[[Alternative story]]<br />
[[Preferred story]]<br />
[[Problem-saturated story#Dominant stories|Dominant story]]<br />
[[Problem-saturated story]]<br />
[[Thickening the plot]]<br />
[[Preferred story#Agency|Agency]]<br />
[[Resistance]]<br />
[[Difference that makes a difference]]<br />
[[Stories lived vs stories told]]<br />
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== Related methods ==<br />
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[[Unique outcome development]]<br />
[[Scaffolding conversations]]<br />
[[Landscape of action and identity mapping]]<br />
[[Re-authoring conversations]]<br />
[[Alternative story development]]<br />
[[Preferred story development]]<br />
[[Externalising conversation]]<br />
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== Related pathways ==<br />
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[[Narrative pathway]]<br />
[[Brief Solution Focused pathway]]<br />
[[Conversational pathway]]<br />
[[Dialogic pathway]]<br />
[[Family and relational dynamics pathway]]<br />
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== Key theorists / contributors ==<br />
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[[Michael White]]<br />
[[David Epston]]<br />
[[Alice Morgan]]<br />
[[Jill Freedman]]<br />
[[Gene Combs]]<br />
[[Steve de Shazer]]<br />
[[Insoo Kim Berg]]<br />
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== Key texts / references ==<br />
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* White, M., & Epston, D. (1990). ''Narrative Means to Therapeutic Ends''. Norton.<br />
* White, M. (2007). ''Maps of Narrative Practice''. Norton.<br />
* Morgan, A. (2000). ''What Is Narrative Therapy? An Easy-to-Read Introduction''. Dulwich Centre Publications.<br />
* Freedman, J., & Combs, G. (1996). ''Narrative Therapy: The Social Construction of Preferred Realities''. Norton.<br />
* de Shazer, S. (1985). ''Keys to Solution in Brief Therapy''. Norton.<br />
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== Notes / source material ==<br />
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Unique outcome questions are most useful when followed by questions that thicken meaning.<br />
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A unique outcome becomes therapeutically significant when it is connected to values, intentions, relationships and preferred identity.<br />
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'''Review status'''<br />
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'''Status:''' Open for review<br />
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'''Review history:'''<br />
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