Case clinic

Gaining new perspectives on a question

What is a case clinic?

This process allows for a person (the client) to gather insights and ideas from a group of supportive individuals (the coaches) whilst making sure the client keeps complete control over his choices. It allows for a group of peers to support each other profoundly.

How does it work?

It works with groups of 3 to 14 people and takes between 1 to 2 hours to examine one question. In most instances, the group meets regularly (e.g. monthly), to explore one member’s question each time.

Roles:

(1) Client: share your personal case/question. Make sure your challenge is current, concrete, important; you are a key player in it; and gaining more insight now could make a big difference moving forward. You should be able to present the case in 5 to 10 minutes.

(2) Coaches: Listen deeply — do not try to “fix” the problem, but listen deeply to the case giver while also attending to the images, metaphors, feelings and gestures that the story evokes in you.

(3) Coordinator: a member of the group sets the date for the meetings, books the room, helps the client prepare his question, manage time during the session. This role can be rotating at every gathering, or be held by the same person throughout the year. Certification trainings are offered for that role from co-development groups.

What are the steps?

1. Prior to the meeting, the client clarifies his/her question, with the support of the coordinator.
2. At the start of the meeting, the coordinator reminds the roles and rounds and answers questions.
3. Check-in round, where each person introduces himself briefly and authentically. (10 to 20 minutes)
4. Client presents his question/challenge. (5 to 10 minutes)
5. Clarification round: coaches may ask clarifying questions to make sure they understand the challenge. (10 to 20 minutes)
6. Consultation round: mirroring, questioning, sharing of past experiences, offering metaphors, opening one’s personal network, suggesting actions… (20 to 30 minutes)
7. Personal reflection (5 minutes)
8. Closing round: what does the client keep from this session? What did the coaches learn in that session? (15 minutes)
9. Setting the date for the next meeting and the name of the client.

Client presents his question, then Clarification round (20 min)

• Current situation: What key challenge or question are you up against?
• Stakeholders: How might others view this situation?
• Intention: What future are you trying to create?
• Learning threshold: What do you need to let-go of — and what do you need to learn?
• Help: Where do you need input or help? What is your “ask” to the coaches?
• Sum up your challenge in one question. Sense of humour welcome.

Coaches listen deeply and may ask clarifying questions (don’t give advice!)

Stillness (3 min)

Coaches, connect with your heart to what you’re hearing and listen to what resonates: What images, metaphors, feelings and gestures come up for you that capture the essence of what you heard?

Consultation round (20min)

One by one, each coach shares the images/metaphors, feelings and gestures that came up in the silence or while listening to the case story. They offer new perspectives on the case giver’s situation and journey: they share their own experiences, provide sources of information, proposals of names to contact.

Build on each other’s ideas. Stay in service of the case giver without pressure to fix or resolve his/her challenge. You only have one chance to speak.

Whilst coaches speak, the client does not react, not even smile. He only takes notes.

Stillness (3 min)

Client, ponder over what you heard and what resonates for you. What actions or ways of being do you want to take forward?

Coaches reflect on what they learnt for themselves. Individual journaling might be used to capture learning points.

Closing remarks (10 min)

• By client: How do I now see my situation and way forward?
• By coaches

Often, a genuine appreciation to each other comes out of that round.

Where does this come from?

Nancy Kline theorized the “Thinking environment”, Adrien Payette and Claude Champagne named it “co-development”. Otto Scharmer and the U-Lab called it Case Clinic. This version of the case clinic is my personal mixture of all these techniques.

This is an extract from my Practical Guide to Collective Intelligence, the art of inter-acting.