Therapeutic Communication Skills Flashcards
7 cards from real CBHT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Therapeutic Communication Skills flashcards as text
A client says, 'Nobody ever listens to me.' The BEST therapeutic response is:
Answer: Tell me more about feeling unheard.
Inviting the client to elaborate validates their feeling and opens the conversation without arguing or minimizing.
Which communication technique involves repeating the client's last few words to encourage continued sharing?
Answer: Restating
Restating echoes the client's exact or near-exact words to signal attentiveness and prompt further elaboration.
A BHT who frequently interrupts a client to offer solutions is demonstrating:
Answer: Premature problem-solving
Interrupting to offer solutions before fully hearing the client undermines the therapeutic relationship and ignores the client's need to be understood.
When a client uses vague language like 'things have been bad,' the BHT should use:
Answer: Clarification questions
Clarification questions help the BHT understand the specific meaning behind vague statements to provide accurate support.
Therapeutic use of silence by a BHT primarily serves to:
Answer: Give the client space to process and continue
A deliberate pause allows the client to reflect, gather thoughts, and feel comfortable enough to continue sharing.
Which of the following is an example of a leading question that should be AVOIDED in therapeutic communication?
Answer: You were angry about that, weren't you?
Leading questions suggest the expected answer and may bias the client's response rather than eliciting their authentic experience.
A client discloses feeling hopeless. After empathizing, the BHT should NEXT:
Answer: Conduct a brief safety assessment
Hopelessness is a risk factor for self-harm; the BHT must assess safety while maintaining the therapeutic connection.