The One Question I Ask Every Client…
Hint: It changes everything.
In healthcare, it’s easy to get caught up in the checkboxes (yes I am guilty!). Medical charts, insurance requirements, protocols, productivity. But the truth is, healing and progress don’t start with paperwork. It starts with people. I want to share with you the number one question I ask every client, especially when it’s my first time meeting them.
It sounds simple, but it stops my clients in their tracks, and allows me to therapeutically listen to them in order to help the best way I can. It also allows me to see the soul I am with, not just the diagnosis or limitation. This question brings the spotlight exactly where it belongs…on the person sitting right in front of me.
“What matters most to you right now?”
Why This Question Matters
When someone tells me what matters most to them, I’m not just hearing a preference. I’m hearing their motivation. Their “why.” I had one client who was younger tell me their goal was to be able to horseback ride again, and I LOVED that. I also loved my work allowed me to be able to help that client achieve their goals. The goals clients say to me aren’t in the textbook like medical outcomes, they are deep human outcomes.
The Ripple Effect
As an OT, I learned that when we anchor care to personal priorities, everything else falls into place. Motivation increases. Engagement deepens. I also gain a lot of rapport with clients. Families also rally behind goals they can see and feel. And often, the medical outcomes we’re all hoping for follow more naturally. By asking, “What matters most to you right now?” I’m not just treating a condition, I’m supporting a life.
Bringing It Back to You
So I want to ask you the same thing: What matters most to you right now?
Whether it’s your health, your independence, your family, or your future, that’s where our work begins. To be honest, it’s never just about what’s on paper. It’s about helping you in a way that is most meaningful to you. I’d love to hear the most important question I ask!
