National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level 2 (NCAC II) Practice Exam Exam

Which counseling skill helps a client to express deeper thoughts and feelings?

1. Summarizing

2. Probing

3. Reflecting

4. Encouraging

The correct answer is: Encouraging

The correct choice for the counseling skill that assists a client in expressing deeper thoughts and feelings is encouraging. This skill involves providing support and affirmation to clients, which fosters a safe environment that encourages them to delve deeper into their emotions and thoughts. When clients feel supported and validated, they are more likely to explore their feelings more openly and deeply, which can lead to greater insight and understanding of their issues. Encouraging can take many forms, such as affirmations, nods of understanding, or verbal cues that signify the counselor is attentive and engaged. This helps clients feel more comfortable sharing and exploring their experiences, leading to richer conversations and therapeutic outcomes. In contrast, summarizing provides a concise recap of the client’s words, which may not necessarily prompt deeper exploration of feelings. Probing involves asking specific questions to elicit more information, which can sometimes feel confrontational rather than supportive. Reflecting involves restating what the client has said, which is also an important skill but may not exclusively serve to deepen emotional expression in the way that encouragement does. Encouraging acts as a catalyst for deeper exploration that can create a meaningful therapeutic dialogue.