Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC) Practice Exam

Which response reflects an understanding of a client's feelings regarding their situation?

1. Encourager

2. Paraphrase

3. Summarization

4. Reflection of feeling

The correct answer is: Encourager

The response that reflects an understanding of a client's feelings regarding their situation is the reflection of feeling. This technique involves recognizing and articulating the emotions that the client expresses, demonstrating empathy and an understanding of their emotional experience. When a counselor reflects feelings, they help the client feel heard and validated, which can encourage deeper exploration of emotions and facilitate the therapeutic process. For instance, if a client discusses feelings of frustration or sadness about their circumstances, a counselor might mirror this by acknowledging those feelings directly. This not only shows that the counselor is attentive to the client's emotional state, but it also fosters a trusting relationship where the client feels safe to express themselves more openly. Other options, such as encouragement, paraphrasing, or summarization, serve different purposes in the therapeutic dialogue. Encouragement might motivate a client but does not specifically address emotional understanding. Paraphrasing involves restating what a client has said to confirm understanding, while summarization combines various points made by the client but may not emphasize emotional content. Therefore, while these techniques are valuable, they do not directly capture the essence of the client's feelings like the reflection of feeling does.