Tom Andersen developed the "reflecting team" practice, which Anderson integrated into collaborative therapy. The essence: a group (or the therapist alone) reflects out loud on what was heard in the conversation while the client listens — then the client reacts. This creates an "inner dialogue" within the outer conversation. The reflection is voiced as a suggestion, not an interpretation: "I noticed.", "It came to my mind.", "Perhaps.". Andersen stressed: reflections must be "unusual enough" — not obvious paraphrases, but not too exotic either.
Step-by-step guide
- In the course of the conversation or after a part of it: stop and voice the reflection out loud
- The reflection is not an evaluation and not advice: "I heard this. and I thought about that."
- Use "perhaps", "it seems to me", "I wonder"
- Invite the client: "What of this resonated? What did not match?"
- Accept the client's response — do not defend your reflection
When to use
- When working with a team as a formal reflecting-team practice
- In individual work — as the therapist's "thinking out loud"
- At impasses, to create new perspectives
- When you want to share a hypothesis without imposing it
Key phrases
I want to share thoughts that came to me as I listened to you. Tell me afterward what of this matched and what did not.
When you spoke about., I had a sense of. I do not know whether this is right.
Follow-up questions
I am wondering whether there is a connection between. and. What do you think?
What of what I said resonated?
What turned out to be quite off?
Alternative phrasings
I had a thought — maybe it is not at all accurate, but I want to voice it.
Listening to you, I thought of. Does this mean anything to you?
Warnings
- ⚠️ Reflections must be "unusual enough" — not obvious paraphrases, but not too exotic either
- ⚠️ Do not impose your reflection if the client refuses it
- ⚠️ In individual work the technique requires practice — easy to turn into a monologue
Source: Anderson, H. & Jensen, P. (Eds.), 2007; Andersen, T. 1987; Anderson, H. 1997
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.