Use these as the spine of Narrative Care:
Keep language short, concrete, and second-person imperative in your anchoring; keep the rest question-led and client-led. Shape to your tone and voice, in accordance with the context and container.
Offer options only after you’ve asked the open “what do you want” question and only if the client can’t name something.
Clinician Anchoring — hold the frame first
Short purpose: settle yourself so you can return the story to the client.
Plant your feet. Breathe down into your belly once and let your shoulders soften.
Acknowledgement & Mirroring — receive and contain
Short purpose: validate what was said and show you heard the person (keeps authorship with them).
I hear you saying [repeat brief phrase they used]. Thank you for telling me that.
Choice & Voice — start with their action (what do you want?)
Short purpose: center the client’s agency by asking for an action-oriented want rather than what others should do.
If we look at that clarity, what would you want in those moments — to pause, to name it, or something else?
(secondary, only if needed): If naming is hard, would you rather I hold silence while you check in, or would you prefer a private word or image to hold?
Authorship & Invitation — invite a client-authored next step
Short purpose: move toward a tiny, client-owned practice in the future tense so possibility and agency live forward.
What might you try next time you notice that? Could you make it a short habit or ritual and notice what changes with practice?
Make It Repeatable & Desirable — co-design motivation, not hurdles
Short purpose: ensure the practice is appealing enough the client will actually choose it; ask about motivation and cues.
(two micro-questions): What would help you remember to reach for this? What would make you want to reach for it?
Offering with love by Ro Rose @QueerlyFluid