A therapist should do all EXCEPT which of the following when probing for a client's personal history?

• A. Use open-ended questions
• B. Have the client relive his or her painful memories
• C. Build rapport
• D. Explore significant life events

Answer: (B)

A skilled intake scene is about safety and guiding the client to tell their story at a pace they control. Open-ended questions invite broad, rich narratives and let the client shape what’s most important, rather than being led by the interviewer’s agenda. Building rapport at the outset creates trust and a sense of safety, which makes it more likely the client will share honestly. Exploring significant life events helps you understand development, patterns, and how past experiences relate to present functioning.

Encouraging the client to relive painful memories during the initial history probe, however, is not appropriate. Pushing for re-experiencing trauma can be distressing and may retraumatize the client, especially early in therapy or without proper support, consent, and trauma-informed procedures. If processing trauma becomes a focus later, it should be approached with appropriate techniques, safeguards, and clinical judgment.