During an intake interview, which approach best encourages the client to share experiences?

During an intake interview, which approach best encourages the client to share experiences?

• A. Ask closed yes/no questions.
• B. Ask open-ended questions to encourage discussion.
• C. Give advice too soon.
• D. Interrupt to correct grammar.

Answer: (B)

Opening conversations with questions that invite storytelling lets the client share experiences in their own words, giving a fuller picture of what brought them in, how symptoms developed, and how these issues affect daily life. Open-ended prompts—like “Can you tell me more about what led you to seek help today?” or “What has been happening since you first noticed these concerns?”—encourage discussion, reveal priorities, and help build rapport and trust. Closed yes/no questions tend to yield brief, limiting answers and can miss important details about the client’s experiences. Giving advice too soon shifts the focus from understanding the client’s situation to directing them, which can disrupt the therapeutic alliance. Interrupting to correct grammar sends a judgmental signal and breaks the client’s flow, making it harder to disclose. So, using open-ended questions best supports a thorough, client-centered intake and facilitates a collaborative assessment.

Opening conversations with questions that invite storytelling lets the client share experiences in their own words, giving a fuller picture of what brought them in, how symptoms developed, and how these issues affect daily life. Open-ended prompts—like “Can you tell me more about what led you to seek help today?” or “What has been happening since you first noticed these concerns?”—encourage discussion, reveal priorities, and help build rapport and trust.

Closed yes/no questions tend to yield brief, limiting answers and can miss important details about the client’s experiences. Giving advice too soon shifts the focus from understanding the client’s situation to directing them, which can disrupt the therapeutic alliance. Interrupting to correct grammar sends a judgmental signal and breaks the client’s flow, making it harder to disclose.

So, using open-ended questions best supports a thorough, client-centered intake and facilitates a collaborative assessment.