Using Circular Scaling Questions to Deconstruct Depression: A Case Study

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