ABSTRACT
Chapter 1 is dedicated to the process through which systemic psychotherapists proceed in carrying on conversations with clients: “hypothesizing”, that is, the process of making sense of what happens both within the therapeutic encounter and in the lives of clients. The chapter describes the sources of the hypotheses, their specific features, and how they are used in the therapeutic conversation. A particular focus is placed on the dialogical use of the hypothesis, describing how it starts from a therapist's idea, but it develops as a collaborative action between therapists and clients to create a shared context of meanings. It is also shown, with examples, how the consideration of the intertwining of the therapist's hypothesizing and the client's feedback supports therapists in deciding how to move in the flow of the dialogue. Finally, the process of hypothesizing is also described as part of the process of being transparent about the practitioners’ ideas and cultural values.
