Which statement would best promote open-ended discussion in therapy?

Which statement would best promote open-ended discussion in therapy?

• A. What concerns do you have about returning to work, and what care options could support your baby?
• B. Let's talk about what would be best for your baby.
• C. You should go back to work.
• D. Eric will get used to being with others.

Answer: (C)

Promoting open-ended discussion in therapy comes from language that invites the client to share feelings, concerns, and possibilities rather than directing them to a specific course of action. The best prompt here is the one that asks about concerns surrounding returning to work and inquires about care options that could support the baby. This approach invites the client to articulate worries in their own words, explore how the situation feels, and brainstorm potential solutions together. It signals collaboration, respects the client’s autonomy, and fosters reflective dialogue. In contrast, suggesting a prescriptive course of action, like telling someone to go back to work, shuts down exploration and reduces the client’s voice to follow-through. A statement that focuses on what would be best for the baby can be helpful for focus, but it may still steer the discussion toward a judgment about outcomes rather than inviting the client to express their own concerns and preferences. Finally, a remark that assumes the child will simply adapt with others can minimize current anxieties and limit the client’s opportunity to discuss feelings and contingencies. So, the open-ended, collaborative prompt—asking about concerns and possible supports—best promotes genuine discussion and shared problem-solving in therapy.

Promoting open-ended discussion in therapy comes from language that invites the client to share feelings, concerns, and possibilities rather than directing them to a specific course of action. The best prompt here is the one that asks about concerns surrounding returning to work and inquires about care options that could support the baby. This approach invites the client to articulate worries in their own words, explore how the situation feels, and brainstorm potential solutions together. It signals collaboration, respects the client’s autonomy, and fosters reflective dialogue.

In contrast, suggesting a prescriptive course of action, like telling someone to go back to work, shuts down exploration and reduces the client’s voice to follow-through. A statement that focuses on what would be best for the baby can be helpful for focus, but it may still steer the discussion toward a judgment about outcomes rather than inviting the client to express their own concerns and preferences. Finally, a remark that assumes the child will simply adapt with others can minimize current anxieties and limit the client’s opportunity to discuss feelings and contingencies.

So, the open-ended, collaborative prompt—asking about concerns and possible supports—best promotes genuine discussion and shared problem-solving in therapy.