• How will you prepare yourself for (a test, confrontation, college, a job interview, test results, etc.)?

• When I refer to (fill in the blank), what do you think I mean?

• What do you mean when you say, "(fill in the blank)"?

• If you had it your way, what would you do in this situation?

• Whom are you listening to?

• Do you feel comfortable with your decision?

• How important is this to you?

• How important do you think this is to your Parents? Friends? God?

• If you had an hour alone with God, how would you spend the time? (I asked my daughter this question when she was 10. Her reply: "We'd go to the mall and have a fruit-smoothie.")

• If you heard someone else share what you just told me, how would you respond?

• What do you consider to be healthy boundaries?

• Who has had a positive influence on you? Why? What did he or she do specifically?

• What character traits do you possess that make you a positive influence?

• How do those qualities help you in relating to others?

• Who has had a negative influence on you? Why? What did he or she do or not do specifically?

• What character traits sometimes turn others off to you?

• What are areas you want to improve on and how have they kept you from relating to others?

• How does someone earn trust with you?

• How have you earned someone else's trust?

• How's your God-time?

• It's obvious you're sincere about your Christianity; is Jesus real to you at this point in your life?

• At what point in your life did God become real to you?

• What is God leading you to do?

• Looking back (on a specific situation), would you say/do anything different?

• What do you want most right now?

• What's the worst-case scenario in this situation?

• If you were the other person, what would you do/say/think/feel?

• Have you talked with them (your mom/dad/boyfriend/friend) about it?

• Do you trust God with (fill in the blank)?

• What are you willing to change in order to bring change in yourself (or this situation/relationship)?

• After encouraging someone with advice on how to handle a certain situation, ask, "Is this fair advice?"

• In suggesting how to respond or handle a situation, ask, "Is this something you can see yourself saying/doing?" or "Do you feel like you can do this?"

• How did that affect the way you think of yourself? Feel about yourself?

• What choices are you making to remain pure in thought, in body, and in your heart?

• How can I help?

Here are some acceptance-and-trust responses to any number of statements a student might say:

• I love you, no matter what.

• I'm here for you.

• I may not agree with all your decisions, but I still love you, no matter what.

• Even if you don't feel like talking about it, I want you to know I'll be praying for you, and I'm all ears if you want to talk later.

• I trust you. I know you can make the right decision.

• I will challenge you…your thinking, especially the way you manage your emotions and relationships.