A technique for the detailed exploration of the client's usual day, most often connected with the problem behavior. The client describes how the day begins and unfolds: when and in what situation the behavior happens, how they feel, what they think, what follows. This is not an evaluation — it is a shared inquiry into the context. Especially effective in addictions: it lets the pattern be seen without direct confrontation.
Step-by-step guide
- Introduce: "Tell me about a typical day when you [drink / smoke]. From the very beginning — how do you wake up?"
- Listen carefully, follow the context, triggers, consequences
- Ask clarifying questions: "And what happened next?", "How did you feel?"
- Do not evaluate, do not interrupt
- Ask an open question about consequences and meaning-making
When to use
- In addictions — as an alternative to formal questionnaires
- At the start of work — for understanding the context
- When the client denies the presence of a problem — the description of the day itself shows the pattern
Key phrases
Tell me what an ordinary day looks like when you drink. What does the morning begin with?
Follow-up questions
And what happens next? How do you feel in the evening?
What do you notice when you look at this day as a whole?
Alternative phrasings
Describe a typical day without this — what does it look like?
Warnings
- ⚠️ Do not turn this into an interrogation or a search for "proof of the problem"
- ⚠️ Do not interrupt the description with evaluative remarks
- ⚠️ After the telling, always ask a question that invites meaning-making
Source: Miller & Rollnick, 2013; Rosengren, 2018
Materials are informational and educational and summarize publicly available scientific sources. They are not medical or psychological advice, are not intended for self-diagnosis or self-treatment, and do not replace consultation with a qualified professional.