Using circular scaling questions to deconstruct depression: A case study

This article discusses and illustrates the use of "circular scaling questio ns" to acquire new information in the therapeutic conversation. Circular sc aling questions are a combination of the theoretical premises of circular q uestions (developed by the Milan team) and scaling questions (developed by de Shazer and colleagues at the Brief Family Therapy Center). By using scal ing questions in a circular fashion, the therapist can integrate contrastin g voices into the therapeutic conversation. This allows an opportunity for a change in the client's perception to occur. By using circular scaling que stions, the therapist and client in this case were able to "deconstruct" th e notion of "depression" by differentiating the client's perceptions of her son from the school personnel's perceptions of him.