Using appropriate questions in communication is important so you can:

• help establish a connection (eg ‘How are you today?’)
• gather information (eg ‘Tell me something about yourself?’)
• open up possibilities (eg 'What would happen if you weren't on drugs?’).

Open questions require more than a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer. Open questions are non-threatening and help build trust. They allow the client to explore their answers and help you to find out what the client’s social, emotional, physical and spiritual wellbeing needs are.

Questions starting with ‘Why’ should be avoided because this word can appear to be judgemental. Instead of asking ‘Why did you start using drugs?’ it is better to ask 'What was happening for you when you started using drugs?'.