A novice counselor finds that clients invariably give yes and no answers to her questions. The problem is most likely that:

A novice counselor finds that clients invariably give yes and no answers to her questions. The problem is most likely that:

• A. The clients are not truthful.
• B. The counselor is using too many closed-ended questions.
• C. The session is too long.
• D. The counselor is not listening.

Answer: (B)

The main idea this item tests is how the type of questions affects client responses. When you rely mostly on closed-ended questions, clients tend to give short, yes or no answers because those prompts require minimal thinking and offer little space to share feelings or details. A novice counselor who keeps getting those brief responses is likely using too many closed-ended questions. Open-ended questions, in contrast, invite clients to tell their stories, describe their emotions, and explain their reasoning, which yields richer information and helps the counselor understand underlying issues. For example, asking "What was going on for you in that moment?" or "How did that experience affect you?" encourages elaboration, whereas "Did you feel anxious?" tends to shut down the response. To improve, mix in open-ended prompts, listen patiently, and use reflective statements to encourage further sharing. The other options don’t fit as well: issues like dishonesty, an excessively long session, or a failure to listen would manifest in different patterns beyond the simple yes/no responses described here.

The main idea this item tests is how the type of questions affects client responses. When you rely mostly on closed-ended questions, clients tend to give short, yes or no answers because those prompts require minimal thinking and offer little space to share feelings or details. A novice counselor who keeps getting those brief responses is likely using too many closed-ended questions. Open-ended questions, in contrast, invite clients to tell their stories, describe their emotions, and explain their reasoning, which yields richer information and helps the counselor understand underlying issues. For example, asking "What was going on for you in that moment?" or "How did that experience affect you?" encourages elaboration, whereas "Did you feel anxious?" tends to shut down the response. To improve, mix in open-ended prompts, listen patiently, and use reflective statements to encourage further sharing. The other options don’t fit as well: issues like dishonesty, an excessively long session, or a failure to listen would manifest in different patterns beyond the simple yes/no responses described here.