Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC) Practice Exam

Which approach is most effective if you want to minimize a client's long-winded responses?

1. Yawns

2. Silence

3. Open questions

4. Closed questions

The correct answer is: Closed questions

Using closed questions is an effective approach to minimize a client's long-winded responses because they require specific, concise answers rather than elaborative narratives. Closed questions typically lead to yes or no responses or other short, direct answers. This can be particularly useful in situations where you need to gather clear and specific information quickly, allowing you to keep the dialogue focused and to the point. In contrast, open questions encourage clients to share their thoughts and feelings in greater detail. While they can be valuable for deeper exploration and understanding, they often lead to longer, more elaborate responses, which is not conducive to minimizing lengthy dialogue. Silence and yawns, while they may influence how a client responds, do not inherently guide them to provide brief answers and could potentially create discomfort or misunderstanding in the therapeutic relationship.