Counselor Education Comprehensive Exam (CECE) Practice Exam

What is used to convey understanding and check the accuracy of comprehension in counseling?

1. Summarizing

2. Questioning

3. Paraphrasing

4. Attending

The correct answer is: Paraphrasing

Paraphrasing is an important technique in counseling that involves restating what the client has said in your own words. This process serves a dual purpose: it allows the counselor to confirm their understanding of the client’s message and checks for accuracy in comprehension. By paraphrasing, the counselor can highlight the main ideas and emotions expressed by the client, which not only demonstrates empathy and active listening but also encourages the client to clarify or elaborate on their thoughts if necessary. This technique is particularly effective because it engages the client in the conversation, fostering a collaborative environment where the client feels heard and validated. It can also help to uncover underlying issues, as it prompts clients to reflect on their own words and thoughts, potentially leading to deeper insights. While summarizing provides a broader overview of the conversation and questioning can elicit more information, neither specifically focuses on ensuring the counselor's understanding of the client's individual statements in the same way that paraphrasing does. Attending relates more to the counselor's non-verbal cues and presence during the session, rather than the verbal method of confirming comprehension.