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The First Session

Here is an outline of the main tasks for the tutor:

Collect a list of the problems presented by the student

Rank the importance of the problems

(What is 1st, 2nd, 3rd?) - Deal with the main!

The Miracle Question

This question is designed to help the student to think differently about their problems, especially to identify their goals and what has to be changed to achieve these goals

Examples include:

"Suppose that one night, while you are asleep, there is a miracle and the problem that brought you here is solved. When you wake up in the morning, what will be different that will tell you that the miracle has taken place?"

"What would it be like if your problem was solved, and what would have happened to cause this change to come about."

"Let's say that a few weeks or months of time had elapsed, and your problem had been resolved. If you and I were to watch a videotape of your life in the future, what would you be doing on the tape that would show that things were better?"

Goal setting - Do something different!

  • What do you need to do to achieve this change?

  • What is the first step you need to do?

  • Remember - small, achievable and realistic

Encourage coping skills

  • How do you cope with these difficulties?

  • How do you manage day-to-day?

  • Who is your greatest support? What do they do that is helpful?

It may be helpful to help the student to consider how they effectively coped with a problem in the past:

  • How did you get through that period?

  • Who was your greatest support? How did they help?

  • How did you manage to solve that problem in the past?


By the end of the first session, the student should have a clear goal (such as obtaining advice from the Student Advice Centre at the Student Union) and to have a clear plan for coping (such as going swimming each day and talking to their best friend).

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