Which therapeutic approach uses the miracle question technique?

• A. Behavioral therapy
• B. Solution focused Family therapy
• C. Psychoanalytic therapy
• D. Gestalt therapy

Answer: (B)

The miracle question is a hallmark technique of solution-focused therapy, often used in family therapy. It asks clients to imagine that a miracle happened overnight and their problem is resolved, then to describe what would be different, what they would notice, and what they would be doing that would show the change. This shifts thinking from dwelling on the problem to envisioning concrete, achievable outcomes, helping clients articulate goals, identify exceptions to the pattern of difficulty, and uncover existing strengths and resources. By focusing on what would be different and the small steps needed to get there, it fosters collaboration, hope, and a brief, goal-oriented path to change. Other therapies center on different mechanisms—behavioral therapy on observable behaviors and reinforcement, psychoanalytic therapy on unconscious processes and past experiences, and Gestalt therapy on present-moment awareness—so the miracle question is not a feature of those approaches.