Future and Reality Techniques

The Miracle Question as a catalyst for solutions.

Derived from solution-focused therapy, the "Miracle Question" is a powerful technique to help couples visualize a future free of the current problem.

The scenario is posed: "Imagine that tonight, while you are asleep, a miracle happens and the problems that brought you here disappear. But since you are asleep, you don't know.

When you wake up tomorrow, what would be the first thing you would notice differently that would indicate to you that the miracle has happened?"

This question forces the partner to skip the complaints and concretely describe successful behaviors.

Instead of saying "we wouldn't fight," they might say "we would greet each other with a kiss" or "we would have breakfast together." These operational descriptions become the therapeutic goals.

It helps clarify what they really want and often reveals that the goals are more attainable than they thought.

Surplus Reality and the ideal scenario.

Related to psychodrama, the "Surplus Reality" (or supplementary reality) technique invites the couple to experience in the "here and now" of the session a reality that does not yet exist but that they desire.

They are asked to act out or describe a scene from their future life where the conflict is resolved, not as a distant fantasy, but by living it in the present.

For example, they may be asked to converse as if they have already overcome their crisis of trust. "How would they talk to each other? What tone would they use?". This technique allows you to "rehearse success."

By emotionally experiencing what that desired reality feels like, motivation is generated and hopelessness is reduced.

It functions as neurological and emotional training for a new way of relating.

Visualized future projection

Similar to sports visualization, future projection involves guiding the couple to mentally construct a detailed picture of their long-term relationship.

They may be asked to describe a "picture" of themselves one, five or ten years from now.

What do they look like physically, what are they doing, what does their body language look like in that picture? This technique helps to align long-term goals and to verify if you both share the same vision of destiny.

If one sees themselves traveling the world and the other raising grandchildren at home, this projection reveals fundamental discrepancies in the life project that need to be addressed.

It also serves to reconnect with the shared hope and purpose that is often lost in day-to-day crisis management.

Summary

The Miracle Question helps to visualize a problem-free future by describing successful behaviors. These concrete goals become achievable therapeutic objectives by revealing real desires of the current couple.

The Surplus Reality invites you to experiment in session with ideal scenarios that do not yet exist. It rehearses relational success by generating motivation through the emotional experience of a present desired reality.

Visualized future projection aligns long-term goals by verifying shared visions. It reconnects with hope and common purpose that is often lost during day-to-day management.