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Counselling Practitioner: Beginner To Advanced

The document discusses the chunking framework for counselling. It involves breaking down information into interrelated chunks that can be organized and expanded on through either chunking down (focusing on specifics) or chunking up (focusing on broader generalizations). Chunking helps counselors and clients gain clarity. Examples of chunking down and up questions are provided. The framework allows counselors to understand clients' problems at different levels of generality and specificity.

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Eddy Popescu
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32 views5 pages

Counselling Practitioner: Beginner To Advanced

The document discusses the chunking framework for counselling. It involves breaking down information into interrelated chunks that can be organized and expanded on through either chunking down (focusing on specifics) or chunking up (focusing on broader generalizations). Chunking helps counselors and clients gain clarity. Examples of chunking down and up questions are provided. The framework allows counselors to understand clients' problems at different levels of generality and specificity.

Uploaded by

Eddy Popescu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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COUNSELLING PRACTITIONER

B E G I N N E R TO A DVA N C E D

THE CHUNKING
FRAMEWORK
THE CHUNKING FRAMEWORK
Chunking is a framework through which counsellors can withdraw pieces of interrelated
information from their clients which can then be organised and expanded upon in either a
deductive (logical) or inductive (broader generalisation) way; respectively known as chunking
down and up. Chunking is a function that helps both counsellor and client gain clarity and
focus by separating thoughts to allow for either a comprehensive exploration for higher
meaning, or specific clarification for missing, overlooked or unknown details.

CHUNKING DOWN
••FOR WHAT PUROSE?
••WHAT IS AN EXAPMLE OF
••WHAT DOES ACHIEVING THIS THAT?
OUTCOME GIVE YOU?
••WHAT IS A COMPONENT OF
••WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU THAT?
ABOUT X...?
••WHAT’S STOPPING YOU...?
••WHAT IS THAT A PART OF?
••WHAT IS N EXAPMLE OF THIS?
••WHAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF X...?
••HOW ARE THEY STOPPING
YOU SPECIFICALLY?
CHUNKING UP
CHUNKING UP

Chunking up refers to moving from small-scale and specific ideas or pieces of information
to larger, more general ones. The effect of chunking up is to establish the reasons why
something is the way it is, i.e. for what purpose.

When chunking up, our aim is to encourage the client to move from details into the general.
This either allows for us to view what they’re discussing from a broader perspective, or it puts
their thinking into a new context. It also allows for small, simple parts to be synthesised into a
larger concept, such as:

Cat → Felis → Carnivora → Mammalia → Animalia

When we ask chunking up questions, we direct a person from looking at the specific details
to the bigger picture, which requires them to examine what is important to them. When
we identify what a person’s purpose is, we can build their motivation.

These types of questions help people examine their beliefs, identify what’s important to them
and clarify their vision of their ‘bigger picture’. Some examples of Chunking Up Questions
include:

•For
• what purpose?

•What
• does achieving this outcome give you?

•What
• is important to you about X...?

•What
• is that a part of?

•What
• is an example of X...?
THE CHUNKING FRAMEWORK

•What
• have you learned?

So why would we want to ask ‘chunking up’ questions as counsellors?

- They allow us to get a better understanding of the big picture — the whole context of the
other person’s problem, decision or goal.
- To identify the client’s values which are underpinning their motivation to a specific goal or
behaviour. Reflecting on your most important values helps you to identify the right course of
action, increases your sense of self-efficacy, and reduces stress.
- They help us to think more strategically, which is an essential skill in therapy

CHUNKING DOWN

Chunking down is when we move from the general concept of a discussion towards the more
specific so that the broad idea is subdivided into small parts and clarified.

Chunking down is effectively the method by which a counsellor can start understanding their
client’s view of the world by asking for more details, and breaking the surface level ideas
presented to them so that the deeper structure can be examined. This not only helps the
counsellor understand better, but also helps the client to build more vocabulary around their
experience and break down more details in their mind.

Europe → Italy → Southern Italy → Sicily → Syracuse → the Ear of Dionysius

These types of questions help people explore the details and identify specific information.
Some examples of chunking down questions include:
•What
• is an example of that?

•What
• is a component of that?

•Who/where/what
• specifically?

You might hear people say ‘I want to do this........ but I can’t because ....’. This is an appropriate
moment to chunk down and ask for more details. Listen out for the ‘but’ as it usually comes
before a limiting belief. You could ask:
•What’s
• stopping you...?

•Who,
• or what is it that’s stopping you?

•What
• is an example of this?

•Who,
• or what is stopping you?

•How
• are they stopping you specifically?

We can use both of these types of questions in our own lives — whenever you have a
problem that seems a little overwhelming, chunk it down into smaller, more manageable
pieces. This helps you to focus on one thing at a time and find solutions before you
move on to the next task.
THE CHUNKING FRAMEWORK
On the other hand, if you’re ever feeling overwhelmed by too much detail, then chunking up to
find the purpose for what you’re doing will help you get perspective. Gaining an overview of the
big picture helps you define what you are doing and why you are doing it.

And why would we want to ask ‘chunking down’ questions as a counsellor? We could ask
‘chunking down’ questions to get more specific, for example:

•To
• find the root of a person’s problem

•To
• fill in any missing information
•To
• identify specific goals that an individual would like to set

•To
• find specific ways that a value could be fulfilled in practice

Chunking up and down questions aim to help clients mindfully reflect on what their honest
answers are and consider the reasons why they want what they want in life.
These prompts in thinking help steer our clients towards their true priorities and motives in
life. If their values are not goal oriented, they might not be inspiring enough for a client to
commit to making any changes in life.

INTUITION

Whilst the main role of a counsellor in this framework seems, at surface level, to be as an act-
ing facilitator of posing chunking up and down questions, they also play a second role which
is equally as important. Offering your intuition as a counsellor is essential for showing the
client you are on their side and building rapport with them, by taking note of the small details
in their communication with you and offering them an objective, kind suggestive observation
such as:

“Are you sure everything’s ok with you? Because things don’t seem quite right.”

A client will more likely always focus on what they don’t want rather in life, rather than what
they do; whilst the latter motivates us, the former drains us of our energy and fixates us on
destructive thought patterns. Intuitive observations such as the example above demonstrate
to your client that you are 100% there for them as a congruent and empathically, and will
therefore trust you more and ultimately share more of themselves to you.
THE CHUNKING FRAMEWORK
Exercise:

Take a few moments to reflect and consider what your natural preference is — do you think in
big or little chunks?
Think of a big chunk task that you want or need to do in life (like writing an essay, cleaning the
house, changing career etc.). Now write down all the little chunks that are required to make
up this big picture.

Here are examples of some small chunk tasks. For each one, write down the big chunk ideas
you would personally associate with it.

1. Reading a map.

2. Turning on your laptop.

3. Attending a seminar.

4. Texting your friend.

5. Buying some vegetables.

How can you start practising your ‘chunking up’ and ‘chunking down’ questioning skills to
become a better communicator for others?

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