Open-ended questions encourage clients to ...

• A. Provide more information and elaboration
• B. Get yes/no answers only
• C. Lead the client toward a specific conclusion
• D. Shorten the interview

Answer: (A)

Open-ended questions invite clients to provide more information and elaboration about their experiences, feelings, and concerns. They require more than a yes or no answer, so clients can describe what’s happening in their own words, share details, and express emotions and meanings behind their symptoms. This approach helps you gather richer data, understand the client’s perspective, and build rapport for a collaborative interview.

For example, asking, “What has brought you in today?” or “How have you been coping with your symptoms this week?” encourages a detailed response, whereas yes/no questions tend to shutter discussion and miss important nuances.

Choosing open-ended prompts over close-ended or leading questions supports a fuller picture of the client’s situation, while those other styles can restrict information, bias the client’s reply, or shorten the interview.