Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC) Practice Exam

In counseling, which method is best to encourage a client to reflect more on their feelings?

1. Closed questions

2. Silence

3. Advice giving

4. Summarization

The correct answer is: Silence

Silence can be a powerful tool in counseling, especially when it comes to encouraging clients to reflect on their feelings. When a counselor uses silence, it creates a space for the client to think and process their emotions more deeply. This allows clients to explore their thoughts without the pressure of immediate feedback or direction. They are given the opportunity to articulate their feelings and insights at their own pace. While other methods such as advice giving, closed questions, and summarization can be useful in specific contexts, they may not facilitate deep reflection as effectively as silence does. Closed questions often limit responses and may lead clients to provide short, factual answers instead of fully exploring their emotions. Summarization can be helpful for clarification but may also steer the conversation in a particular direction, possibly hindering deeper self-exploration. Advice giving can be directive, which may lead to clients feeling less empowered to explore their own feelings. In contrast, silence encourages a more introspective and client-led process, allowing for greater emotional exploration.