In motivational interviewing, which technique helps clients articulate their employment goals and recognize discrepancies between their current behavior and goals?

In motivational interviewing, which technique helps clients articulate their employment goals and recognize discrepancies between their current behavior and goals?

• A. Open-ended questions
• B. Affirmations
• C. Rolling with Resistance
• D. Empathy

Answer: (A)

In motivational interviewing, inviting clients to articulate their employment goals and explore the gaps between where they are now and where they want to be happens best through open-ended questions. These questions require more than a yes or no and encourage the client to describe their goals in their own words, clarify why those goals matter, and reveal ambivalence. As the client expresses their desired outcomes, discrepancies between current behavior and goals become more apparent, which naturally motivates change and guides the conversation. Affirmations reinforce progress and strengths but don’t primarily elicit goals or surface discrepancies. Rolling with Resistance helps manage pushback without arguing, yet it doesn’t focus on drawing out goals or highlighting gaps. Empathy conveys understanding and builds rapport, but it isn’t the technique that directly prompts goal articulation and discrepancy recognition.

In motivational interviewing, inviting clients to articulate their employment goals and explore the gaps between where they are now and where they want to be happens best through open-ended questions. These questions require more than a yes or no and encourage the client to describe their goals in their own words, clarify why those goals matter, and reveal ambivalence. As the client expresses their desired outcomes, discrepancies between current behavior and goals become more apparent, which naturally motivates change and guides the conversation.

Affirmations reinforce progress and strengths but don’t primarily elicit goals or surface discrepancies. Rolling with Resistance helps manage pushback without arguing, yet it doesn’t focus on drawing out goals or highlighting gaps. Empathy conveys understanding and builds rapport, but it isn’t the technique that directly prompts goal articulation and discrepancy recognition.