I did all the talking!

"I did all the talking!"

We've just had a lively, lovely conversation and are saying our good-byes until next time. That's when it hits. She talked, I listened.

My job is to ask open-ended questions and let the client think aloud.

What kind of kid were you?
What did you do in the summers? 
Who was your favorite teacher?
What was your father like?

Barbara is answering off the cuff, so she reflects aloud. She pauses when she thinks about her mother's illness and brightens as she talks about her dearest friends. 

My prompts conjure collages that we turn into oral and then written stories. I depend on the client doing the talking!

Barbara says, "Next time I'm asking the questions." 

Nice try, Barbara.